U.S. Southern Command confirmed that American forces conducted a lethal strike on a suspected narco‑trafficking vessel in the eastern Pacific Ocean on January 23, 2026, killing two alleged narco‑terrorists and wounding or leaving at least one person alive, military officials said. The operation was carried out under the direction of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth by Joint Task Force Southern Spear after intelligence assessments identified the boat as operating along known smuggling routes and engaged in narcotics trafficking.

In a declassified release and accompanying infrared footage shared by U.S. Southern Command, the U.S. military showed the targeted speedboat exploding in flames following the strike, a visual the command said confirmed the effectiveness of the action against a high‑value target linked to transnational criminal networks. Southern Command immediately notified the U.S. Coast Guard to activate its search‑and‑rescue system to locate the surviving suspect following the hit.

This strike marked another significant kinetic action in Operation Southern Spear, a sustained maritime campaign aimed at disrupting drug trafficking into the United States by targeting vessels associated with designated terrorist organizations and narco‑terror groups. It is among dozens of similar operations carried out since late 2025, reflecting an intensified use of military force in international waters on smuggling routes. The U.S. military described the individuals killed as “narco‑terrorists,” asserting that maritime trafficking of fentanyl and other illicit drugs poses a grave threat to American public health and national security.

According to the official report, the targeted boat was observed transiting along established narcotics corridors in the eastern Pacific when Joint Task Force Southern Spear executed the strike. Two suspects were killed in the engagement, and the lone survivor is being pursued by U.S. Coast Guard forces as part of ongoing operations. U.S. defense officials have characterized these maritime strikes as essential efforts to interdict lethal drug flows before they reach U.S. shores, though they have also drawn scrutiny from some observers who raise legal and humanitarian concerns about the use of lethal force in counter‑narcotics missions at sea.

The January 23 operation highlights the Trump administration’s expanded use of U.S. military assets beyond traditional interdiction efforts, framing narco‑trafficking networks as actionable threats under counter‑terrorism authorities. As the campaign continues, U.S. Southern Command and its partners remain focused on disrupting smuggling routes, apprehending suspects where feasible, and coordinating with the Coast Guard on maritime law enforcement and rescue operations.