The US military obliterated a trio of suspected drug vessels in a deadly overnight attack — marking the 33rd known boat strike since the Trump administration launched Operation Southern Spear in September.
The latest strike killed “three narco-terrorists” traveling in a single convoy in international waters, while suspected drug traffickers on two other boats immediately jumped overboard after the initial blast Tuesday night, according to the US Southern Command.
“These vessels were operated by Designated Terrorist Organizations in international waters,” military officials said in a X post Wednesday night, noting the strike was ordered by War Secretary Pete Hegseth.
“Intelligence confirmed the vessels were transiting along known narco-trafficking routes and had transferred narcotics between the three vessels prior to the strikes. Three narco-terrorists aboard the first vessel were killed in the first engagement.
“The remaining narco-terrorists abandoned the other two vessels, jumping overboard and distancing themselves before follow-on engagements sank their respective vessels.”
The US Coast Guard was swiftly notified after the strikes to launch a search-and-rescue operation for those who plunged into the water, the Southern Command added.
Footage of the operation shared on social media showed the three boats racing across the water in close proximity before one is stopped dead by a fiery blast, followed seconds later by strikes on the other two.
The Southern Command, which oversees Central and South America and the Caribbean, did not specify where the latest strikes occurred or how many suspected narco-terrorists were on the other boats.
Previous airstrikes have been in the Caribbean Sea and the eastern Pacific Ocean.
At least 110 alleged drug smugglers have been killed in a total of 33 known boat strikes since early September.
