Incident Code

USMAR251104a

Location

Pacific Ocean

Airwars Assessment

Last Updated: June 17, 2026

On November 4, 2025, the United States military carried out a lethal kinetic strike on a vessel allegedly affiliated with “a Designated Terrorist Organization,” reportedly killing two men described as “narco-terrorists” in international waters in the Eastern Pacific.

@SecWar Pete Hegseth published a statement on Twitter/X on November 4th announcing the strike “today” on a vessel reportedly involved in “illicit narcotics smuggling, was transiting along a known narco-trafficking transit route, and carrying narcotics”. In the video included in the post, a boat can be seen floating (it does not appear to be moving) in the water until it erupts in flames and smoke. The surveillance shows the boat in flames from multiple angles.

There were no additional details found among local sources about the victims.

Methodological note about classification of those killed in this incident

In documenting this incident, Airwars is following the guidance outlined by independent International Human Rights Law and International Humanitarian Law experts, whereby those on the vessels are understood to be civilians, given that the legal framework in which the strikes are being conducted remains in question.

Airwars has therefore included a civilian casualty count of two deaths.

Assessment Updates

16 December 2025
Geolocation added. Incident had not been geolocated when originally published.

Key Information

Geolocation Notes

Reports of the incident mention a strike in the Eastern Pacific. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further. The location of this incident will be further specified if more information comes to light.

Maritime

Body of Water
Pacific Ocean
Vessels destroyed
1
Civilians killed during initial attack
2

Military Statements

U.S. Forces Assessment
Known belligerent
U.S. Forces
U.S. Forces position on incident
Not yet assessed
U.S. Forces Strike Report
Today, at the direction of President Trump, the Department of War carried out a lethal kinetic strike on a vessel operated by a Designated Terrorist Organization (DTO). Intelligence confirmed that the vessel was involved in illicit narcotics smuggling, transiting along a known narco-trafficking route, and carrying narcotics. The strike was conducted in international waters in the Eastern Pacific. No U.S. forces were harmed in the strike, and two male narco-terrorists — who were aboard the vessel — were killed. We will find and terminate EVERY vessel with the intention of trafficking drugs to America to poison our citizens. Protecting the homeland is our TOP priority. NO cartel terrorist stands a chance against the American military.

Media from U.S. Forces (1)

Sources (5)

SecWar
5 Nov 2025

English

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Source ID

297156

Archive URL

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Source URL

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Date

5 Nov 2025

Source Author

SecWar

Languages

English

Content

Today, at the direction of President Trump, the Department of War carried out a lethal kinetic strike on a vessel operated by a Designated Terrorist Organization (DTO). Intelligence confirmed that the vessel was involved in illicit narcotics smuggling, transiting along a known narco-trafficking route, and carrying narcotics. The strike was conducted in international waters in the Eastern Pacific. No U.S. forces were harmed in the strike, and two male narco-terrorists — who were aboard the vessel — were killed. We will find and terminate EVERY vessel with the intention of trafficking drugs to America to poison our citizens. Protecting the homeland is our TOP priority. NO cartel terrorist stands a chance against the American military.

Media from SecWar (2)

CBS News

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Source ID

304115

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Source Author

CBS News

Languages

Content

U.S. forces conducted another strike Tuesday on an alleged drug-trafficking vessel in the eastern Pacific Ocean, killing two people, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth reported. The attack was carried out at the direction of President Trump, Hegseth said in a social media post that included unclassified video of the strike. "Intelligence confirmed that the vessel was involved in illicit narcotics smuggling, transiting along a known narco-trafficking route, and carrying narcotics," Hegseth said. "Two male narco-terrorists" aboard the vessel were killed, the defense secretary added, noting that no U.S. personnel were killed in the operation. No further information was provided. Dating back to early September, the Trump administration has reported well over a dozen such strikes in the waters of the Caribbean and eastern Pacific Ocean off South America on what it alleges are drug vessels. The strikes have killed more than 50 people. Outside of the unclassified videos released by the Defense Department, the U.S. has provided no details on the boats that were struck or about the people aboard. The White House says they are part of an effort to cripple the operations of drug cartels. Some lawmakers have criticized the strikes, saying the White House has not provided enough evidence the boats were smuggling drugs, and with some insisting the president needs congressional approval to carry out the strikes. Mr. Trump on Oct. 23 told reporters, "Well, I don't think we're going to necessarily ask for a declaration of war. I think we're just going to kill people that are bringing drugs into our country. OK? We're going to kill them. You know? They're going to be like, dead." Several of the strikes have occurred off the coast of Venezuela, as Mr. Trump has been vocal in his criticism of controversial Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and amid a broader buildup of U.S. military assets in the Caribbean. When asked in an interview with "60 Minutes" last week if Maduro's "days were numbered," Mr. Trump responded, "I would say yeah. I think so, yeah." Mr. Trump last month also confirmed that he had authorized covert CIA operations in Venezuela. Earlier this year, the Trump administration designated several cartels as terrorist organizations, including Venezuela's notorious Tren de Aragua. The Pentagon has meanwhile ramped up its presence in Latin America's waters, deploying eight military vessels to the region. Last month, the Pentagon announced the U.S. was also sending the Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group to the area, as well. The USS Gerald R. Ford, the Navy's newest and most advanced aircraft carrier, has passed through the Strait of Gibraltar headed for the Caribbean, CBS News learned Tuesday, along with the USS Bainbridge, a destroyer. James LaPorta, Charlie D'Agata, Joe Walsh, Eleanor Watson and Kathryn Watson contributed to this report.
UniNoticias
3 Nov 2025

Spanish

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Source ID

297658

Archive URL

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Date

3 Nov 2025

Source Author

UniNoticias

Languages

Spanish

Translated Content

US attacks another suspected drug-running boat with a missile in the Caribbean: all three occupants are dead. Details http://uni.vi/57qC106poHt

Content

EEUU ataca con un misil otra presunta ‘narcolancha’ en el Caribe: sus tres ocupantes murieron. Detalles http://uni.vi/57qC106poHt.

Media from UniNoticias (2)

ImpactoVE
5 Nov 2025

Spanish

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Source ID

297662

Archive URL

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Source URL

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Date

5 Nov 2025

Source Author

ImpactoVE

Languages

Spanish

Translated Content

ATTACK ON NARCO-BOAT On Trump's orders, the @DeptofWar conducted a lethal kinetic strike against a vessel operated by a Designated Terrorist Organization in the Eastern Pacific. The vessel was carrying narcotics. Two crew members were killed. No U.S. military personnel were injured.

Content

ATAQUE A NARCOLANCHA Por orden de Trump, el @DeptofWar llevó a cabo ataque cinético letal contra un buque operado por una Organización Terrorista Designada en el Pacífico oriental. El barco transportaba narcóticos. 2 tripulantes murieron. Ningún militar estadounidense herido.

Media from ImpactoVE (2)

quadratinbajio
5 Nov 2025

Spanish

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Source ID

297667

Archive URL

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Source URL

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Date

5 Nov 2025

Source Author

quadratinbajio

Languages

Spanish

Translated Content

#International | US LAUNCHES DEADLY ATTACK ON VESSEL IN THE CARIBBEAN On orders from President Trump, the Department of Defense destroyed a vessel allegedly linked to drug trafficking. https://bajio.quadratin.com.mx/ejecuta-eu-nuevo-ataque-a-embarcacion-en-aguas-del-caribe/…

Content

#Internacional | EU LANZA ATAQUE LETAL CONTRA EMBARCACIÓN EN EL CARIBE Por orden del presidente Trump, el Departamento de Guerra destruyó un navío presuntamente ligado al narcotráfico. https://bajio.quadratin.com.mx/ejecuta-eu-nuevo-ataque-a-embarcacion-en-aguas-del-caribe/…

Media from quadratinbajio (2)

Media from Sources (8)