The U.S. military announced three more strikes against suspected drug-trafficking vessels as part of Operation Southern Spear. Two of the strikes occurred in the Eastern Pacific, and one in the Caribbean Sea. Eleven “male narco-terrorists were killed” during the military operations, and the strikes were authorized by Gen. Francis L. Donovan, commander of United States Southern Command.
Southern Command announced the recent strikes in a press release and on social media accounts.
“Late on Feb. 16, at the direction of #SOUTHCOM commander Gen. Francis L. Donovan, Joint Task Force Southern Spear conducted three lethal kinetic strikes on three vessels operated by Designated Terrorist Organizations,” read the post. “Intelligence confirmed the vessels were transiting along known narco-trafficking routes and were engaged in narco-trafficking operations.”
“Eleven male narco-terrorists were killed during these actions, 4 on the first vessel in the Eastern Pacific, 4 on the second vessel in the Eastern Pacific, and 3 on the third vessel in the Caribbean,” Southern Command reported about the casualties. “No U.S. military forces were harmed.”
Monday’s military operations against suspected narco-terrorists were the third, fourth, and fifth carried out in February and the sixth in 2026. It was the 42nd known strike conducted as part of Operation Southern Spear, with at least 144 known victims, according to a New York Times tracker.
TWO ‘NARCO-TERRORISTS’ KILLED IN LATEST MILITARY STRIKE IN EASTERN PACIFIC
Operation Southern Spear was launched in 2025 at the request of President Donald Trump. The objective of the operation is to “enhance security and stability across the Western Hemisphere by detecting, disrupting, and degrading transnational criminal and illicit maritime networks,” according to a release on the U.S. Navy website.
“This operation enhances maritime domain awareness, supports regional stability, and helps prevent illicit activity from reaching the U.S. Homeland. These efforts reflect the Department’s commitment to maintaining a safe, stable, and secure hemisphere,” read the release.
The first strikes against suspected drug-trafficking boats occurred on Sept. 2, 2025, in the Caribbean Sea.
