On August 23, 2026, the United States military carried out a lethal kinetic strike on a vessel, reportedly killing two people described as “narco-terrorists” in the Eastern Pacific.
The strike was announced by U.S. Southern Command on Twitter/X on August 24th. The statement detailed that “under #SOUTHCOM Commander Gen. Francis L. Donovan’s direction” the strike was on a "low-profile" vessel which intelligence confirmed allegedly was “transiting along known narco-trafficking routes in the Eastern Pacific. Confirmed intelligence revealed the vessel's active involvement in narco-trafficking.” In a video included in the post, a boat can be seen moving through the water before a blinding explosion can be seen, with the remains of the vessel shown in flames.
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.