New footage released by military command shows vessel engulfed in flames following attack; legal experts question use of force.
The United States Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) has released video footage of a military strike against an alleged drug trafficking vessel in the eastern Pacific, marking the latest in a series of attacks that have drawn international scrutiny.
According to SOUTHCOM, the vessel was struck in the eastern Pacific region. The footage shows a boat moving across the water before being hit by what appears to be a missile. The video then cuts to black before revealing the vessel consumed by flames.
Two people were killed in the attack, and one person remains injured. SOUTHCOM confirmed that one individual survived the strike. The U.S. Coast Guard has been notified to launch a search and rescue mission.
The strike follows a previous attack on Tuesday in the same region, which killed three individuals whom U.S. officials claim were suspected drug traffickers.
Since September, there have been 58 strikes on boats, resulting in a death toll of approximately 192 people, with only four survivors across these attacks, according to U.S. claims cited in the operational summary.
The Trump administration has described and defended these attacks as a “war against narcoterror” being operated in Latin America.
However, the operations have come under scrutiny, particularly after the U.S. failed to provide evidence confirming whether the targeted boats were transporting drugs. Legal experts have argued that many of these deaths amount to extrajudicial killings.
Since the start of 2026, this is the seventh known U.S. attack on boats. In April and March, at least one attack was noted per month, while in February and January, there were two attacks per month.
