The U.S. military blew up an alleged drug-smuggling vessel in the Eastern Pacific on Thursday, leaving three survivors, two who died before being recovered, the U.S. Southern Command (Southcom) announced Friday morning. 



Southcom said a “low-profile” vessel was being operated by a designated terrorist organization and was transiting along “known narco-trafficking routes.” 





It’s not clear which terrorist group the military was referring to. 



After the attack, the military said it contacted the U.S. Coast Guard to activate a search and rescue mission. No U.S. service members were injured in the operation. 



The Coast Guard said it coordinated with Maritime Rescue Coordination Center Costa Rica after learning of the strike, eventually recovering one surviving person.



“Coast Guard Cutter Bertholf was diverted from its patrol and transited toward the vessel’s last known position. Bertholf arrived on scene and recovered two deceased individuals and one survivor from the water,” it said.



All three were transferred to the Costa Rican Coast Guard, the U.S. Coast Guard added.



Since Sept. 2, 2025, the U.S. military has conducted a minimum of 45 lethal strikes against alleged drug-smuggling vessels in both the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific, killing at least 157 alleged “narco-terrorists.”





The Trump administration has said the military is destroying drug-trafficking boats and therefore stemming the flow of illicit drugs in the region, while law-of-war experts have said the strikes are violating international law. 



On Thursday, Gen. Francis L. Donovan, the commander of U.S. Southern Command, said during a Senate hearing that boat strikes “aren’t the answer” to the country’s drug problems, but that the military has seen “changes in the narco-traffickers’ patterns.”



“What we’re moving for right now might be an extension of Southern Sphere, but really a counter-cartel campaign process that puts total systemic friction across this network,” the general said.



Updated: 1:51 p.m. EDT

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