US forces strike suspected narco-trafficking vessel in Eastern Pacific, killing two
U.S. forces carried out a strike that killed two people on a vessel suspected of narco-trafficking in the Eastern Pacific, U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) said, Qazinform News Agency reports.
The operation was carried out on August 23 by Joint Task Force Western Hemisphere under the direction of Gen. Francis L. Donovan, commander of U.S. Southern Command. The vessel was operating along established narco-trafficking routes, and U.S. intelligence had confirmed its involvement in drug trafficking, according to the command.
Donovan said the task force was created to accelerate and coordinate lethal operations against narco-terrorist networks, with the aim of disrupting their activities, dismantling their leadership and eliminating cartel terror across the region.
“We will not permit narco-terrorists to operate with impunity in the Western Hemisphere, nor will we allow their deadly poison to reach American communities,” Donovan said, adding that the operation demonstrated U.S. military precision and resolve to protect the U.S. homeland.
"This operation is a clear and decisive reminder that SOUTHCOM is taking the fight directly to the cartels."
— U.S. Southern Command (@Southcom) August 24, 2026
On August 23, under #SOUTHCOM Commander Gen. Francis L. Donovan’s direction, Joint Task Force Western Hemisphere executed a lethal kinetic strike on a low-profile vessel… pic.twitter.com/aIw1qn36gd
Earlier, Qazinform News Agency reported that U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) announced plans to establish Task Force Falcon Strike, described as the first-ever multinational, multi-domain attack drone task force.
