Latest on U.S. Military Strike in Pacific
WASHINGTON — The United States military said Friday that it conducted a lethal strike on a vessel in the eastern Pacific Ocean, killing two people and leaving one survivor, marking the first known boat strike since the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro earlier this month, officials announced.
According to U.S. Southern Command, intelligence indicated the vessel was engaged in narco-trafficking operations along recognized smuggling routes. The military described the action as part of an ongoing campaign against maritime drug trafficking.
Southern Command said that the U.S. Coast Guard was notified to carry out a search-and-rescue mission for the survivor following the strike. A video released by the command shows the targeted vessel engulfed in flames in open waters.
Context of the Operation
The strike on January 23, 2026, was publicly confirmed as the first of its kind since U.S. forces captured President Nicolás Maduro earlier in the month in a high-profile operation in Caracas. The raid that seized Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, and brought them to the United States to face federal drug trafficking charges was the culmination of a series of U.S. military and intelligence actions targeting Venezuelan networks.
Since early September 2025, the U.S. military has conducted dozens of strikes under the broader campaign aimed at disrupting drug trafficking by sea. With this latest action, announcements indicate at least 36 known strikes have occurred, resulting in more than 117 fatalities, predominantly targeting alleged drug-smuggling vessels in the Caribbean Sea and Pacific waters.
Official Statements and Position
In a statement shared on social media, Southern Command identified the vessel as moving along established narcotics transport corridors, emphasizing that the action was based on confirmed intelligence and aimed at dismantling illicit trafficking networks. The statement also highlighted coordination with the Coast Guard to assist in post-strike operations.
The Trump administration has defended these maritime operations as effective measures to stem the flow of illegal drugs into the United States, particularly cocaine and other hard narcotics generated in South America. In public remarks, President Donald Trump asserted that the campaign has significantly disrupted drug trafficking by sea, although independent verification of such claims is limited.
Critics, including opponents of the Maduro capture operation, have questioned the legality and broader strategic implications of such strikes, particularly in international waters. Prior actions in the region have drawn international scrutiny over rules of engagement and adherence to international law governing use of force. However, U.S. defense officials maintain that strikes target vessels linked to transnational criminal networks and are conducted under legal authority.
Search and Rescue Efforts
Following the strike, the U.S. Coast Guard was reported to have launched operations to locate and assist the lone survivor. Details about the identity, nationality, or condition of the survivor have not been released by officials. Coordination between the Department of Defense and the Coast Guard is standard protocol in incidents where civilian lives may be at risk following military action.
Broader Impact and Ongoing Campaign
The eastern Pacific represents a critical segment of global narcotics trafficking routes, where high-speed boats and maritime networks are frequently used to transport illicit drugs toward North American markets. The U.S. military’s expanded operations at sea form part of a multipronged strategy that also includes aerial surveillance, intelligence sharing with regional partners, and law enforcement cooperation.
With heightened diplomatic attention following the capture of Maduro, U.S. officials are expected to continue these operations, reinforcing the administration’s emphasis on aggressive disruption of transnational criminal organizations. The latest strike underscores the persistence of maritime drug trafficking challenges and the U.S. commitment to countering them beyond national waters.
Source: Reporting by Associated Press, CBS News, Reuters, and South China Morning Post.
Tags: U.S. Military, Drug Trafficking, Eastern Pacific, Nicolás Maduro, Southern Command
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