On January 23, 2026, a U.S. military strike killed two on a drug trafficking vessel in the Eastern Pacific, marking a significant escalation in operations.
The United States military announced that it conducted a deadly attack on a boat allegedly involved in drug trafficking in the Eastern Pacific Ocean on January 23, 2026. This was the first maritime attack carried out as part of land and sea operations following the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro last month.
U.S. Southern Command stated that the attack targeted a vessel traveling along known drug routes and that two individuals were killed as a result of the strike, while one person was rescued alive. The Command indicated that instructions were given to the Coast Guard to initiate a search and rescue operation for the rescued individual.
The operation was recorded as part of an ongoing military campaign against drug trafficking by sea in the region. In recent months, the U.S. has carried out numerous attacks on vessels suspected of transporting drugs in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific.
A video showed the attacked boat suddenly engulfed in flames while moving through the waters, while Pentagon spokespersons noted that such military operations aim to prevent drug trafficking in international waters. However, some human rights advocates and legal experts have expressed concerns about the potential targeting of civilians and the possibility of extrajudicial attacks.
Source: SeaNews Türkiye
