The U.S. military conducted a lethal strike against a vessel in the eastern Pacific Ocean on Monday, resulting in two fatalities and one survivor. U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) confirmed the engagement was carried out by Joint Task Force Southern Spear under the direction of Gen. Francis L. Donovan.
Following the strike, the U.S. Coast Guard was notified to initiate search and rescue protocols for the survivor. A Coast Guard spokesperson stated that Maritime Rescue Coordination Center Ecuador has since assumed coordination of the rescue operations, with the U.S. providing technical support.
This mission is part of Operation Southern Spear, a Trump administration campaign focused on disrupting narcotics trafficking.
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To date, 121 people have been killed during the operation. The administration has designated those targeted in these strikes as “unlawful combatants,” citing a classified Justice Department finding as the legal basis for conducting lethal operations without judicial review.
Monday’s event is the third publicly reported strike of the year. It follows a January mission that also resulted in two deaths and one survivor.
Official statements from SOUTHCOM identified the vessel as being operated by designated terrorist organizations, though specific evidence regarding cargo or organizational affiliation for this specific transit has not been released to the public.
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