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US airstrike kills three in eastern Pacific, targets alleged drug speedboat
🇬🇷 Greece /Conflict & Security

US airstrike kills three in eastern Pacific, targets alleged drug speedboat

From Ta Nea · () Greek

Translated from Greek, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources New plan
  • The U.S. military conducted an airstrike on a speedboat in the eastern Pacific Ocean, killing three individuals it identified as drug traffickers.
  • U.S. Southern Command stated the vessel was involved in drug smuggling operations, and the strike was authorized by its commander.
  • The U.S. military has been conducting similar strikes since September 2025, targeting drug-smuggling speedboats, with critics questioning the legality and alleging extrajudicial killings.

The U.S. military announced it conducted an airstrike on a speedboat in the eastern Pacific Ocean on Thursday, killing three people it claims were involved in drug trafficking. U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) stated on X that the vessel was engaged in drug smuggling operations and that the strike was authorized by its commander, Gen. Francis L. Donovan.

A 15-second video clip, described as declassified black and white footage, was released showing the strike. SOUTHCOM referred to the deceased as "male narco-terrorists," using its standard terminology for such operations.

On June 18, at the direction of #SOUTHCOM commander Gen. Francis L. Donovan, Joint Task Force Southern Spear conducted a lethal kinetic strike on a vessel operated by Designated Terrorist Organizations. Intelligence confirmed the vessel was transiting along known…

— U.S. Southern CommandAnnouncing the airstrike via X.

The U.S. military has been conducting a campaign of airstrikes against speedboats in the eastern Pacific and Caribbean since September 2025. The military presents this as part of its "war" on cartels smuggling drugs from Latin America to the U.S. market. The Trump administration designated several Latin American gangs as "terrorist organizations" last year. According to military announcements, over 200 people have been killed in these operations to date.

However, the Trump administration has never presented evidence that the targeted vessels were actually involved in illegal activities. The legality of these strikes in international or foreign territorial waters is disputed both domestically and internationally. Experts, NGOs, and UN officials consider them to be extrajudicial killings.

Three male narco-terrorists were killed during the operation.

— U.S. Southern CommandDescribing the outcome of the airstrike.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Ta Nea in Greek. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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