New U.S. Attack on Suspect Vessels Results in Two New Casualties in Pacific Operation

U.S. Southern Command confirmed this Friday the execution of a military operation against a vessel sailing in the Eastern Pacific. According to the official statement, the ship was operated by Designated Terrorist Organizations (groups identified as terrorists by U.S. authorities) and was passing through known drug trafficking areas. The reported outcome was two dead and one survivor rescued.

Details of the January 23 action in Pacific waters

Under the direction of Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, the Joint Task Force Southern Spear carried out a lethal kinetic operation against the vessel on January 23. Military intelligence indicated that the ship was actively involved in drug trafficking operations along established routes in the Eastern Pacific. After the impact, two members of the group died in the attack, while one survived.

Immediately after the action, the Southern Command notified the U.S. Coast Guard to activate search and rescue protocols for the survivor. Videos shared by military authorities show the ship sailing when it is hit by a significant explosion. Rescue operations are ongoing to locate the sole survivor of the incident.

Cumulative campaigns: over 100 casualties in Operation Southern Spear

This action is part of a broader military campaign that began in early September. By the end of December, the U.S. government had already carried out 30 operations against suspected drug ships in the same ocean area. White House figures indicated that the campaign had resulted in the deaths of 107 people since its start.

The last documented previous operation occurred on December 31, when U.S. authorities reported attacking three suspected drug trafficking vessels, resulting in five additional deaths. Attacks have intensified significantly in recent months, establishing an unprecedented military deployment in the region.

Political justification: Trump links attacks to an armed conflict

President Donald Trump has repeatedly justified these operations as a necessary escalation to stop the flow of illegal substances into U.S. territory. In public statements, Trump has characterized the situation as an armed conflict against drug cartels, arguing that military actions are proportional to the threat they pose.

Meanwhile, the United States increased its military presence in the region prior to the detention of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, who is currently in U.S. custody. This operational intensification is part of a broader regional security strategy.

Legislative response and growing controversy

The military actions have sparked increasing scrutiny among U.S. lawmakers. Criticism intensified after the first bombing in early September, in which two survivors clinging to the wreckage of a vessel died in a second strike. The legislative debate continues over the legality and proportionality of these operations against ships in international waters.

Information from AP