US Military Says 2 Killed in Strike on Drug Boat in Pacific

The U.S. military said it conducted a deadly strike on a narco-trafficking vessel in the Eastern Pacific Ocean on Friday, killing two people aboard and prompting a search-and-rescue effort for a third survivor, according to the U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM). The action, directed by Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, was carried out by Joint Task Force Southern Spear amid a continuing campaign against drug trafficking networks designated as terrorist organizations. Intelligence indicated the boat was traversing known trafficking routes and actively involved in illicit operations, according to officials. “On Jan. 23, at the direction of @SecWar Pete Hegseth, 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 narco-trafficking routes in the Eastern Pacific and was engaged in narco-trafficking operations,” Southern Command stated in a post on X as well as on its website....