On February 20, 2026, the United States military carried out a lethal kinetic strike on a vessel allegedly affiliated with “Designated Terrorist Organizations,” reportedly killing three men described as “narco-terrorists” in the Eastern Pacific.

This strike was announced by U.S. Southern Command @Southcom on Twitter/X on February 20th. The statement detailed that “at the direction of #SOUTHCOM Commander Gen. Francis L. Donovan” the strike was on a vessel which intelligence confirmed allegedly “was transiting along known narco-trafficking routes in the Eastern Pacific and was engaged in narco-trafficking operations.” In a video included in the post, a stationary boat floating in the water is seen exploding into flames and smoke.

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 three deaths.