US Military Strikes Alleged Drug Boat in Eastern Pacific, Killing Two

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US Military Strikes Alleged Drug Boat in Eastern Pacific, Killing Two

9 minutes ago

News sources:

ALJAZEERA

CBSNEWS

SCMP

CHANNELNEWSASIA

LEMONDE

LATIMES

US Military Strikes Alleged Drug Boat in Eastern Pacific, Killing Two

Credited from: LATIMES

US military conducted a strike on a drug trafficking boat in the Eastern Pacific.
The operation resulted in two fatalities and one survivor.
This is the first attack since former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro's capture.
The US military claims the vessel was engaged in narco-trafficking operations.
The legality of such strikes raises concerns among human rights organizations.

The US military announced a strike on an alleged drug trafficking boat in the Eastern Pacific Ocean on January 23, 2026, resulting in the deaths of two individuals and leaving one survivor. This operation is significant as it marks the first military action since the capture of Nicolás Maduro, former President of Venezuela, earlier in the month, according to aljazeera, cbsnews, and scmp.

The attack involved a vessel identified by US Southern Command as being "engaged in narco-trafficking operations". A video released by the Command shows the boat prior to the strike and its subsequent explosion, as per insights from channelnewsasia and lemonde.

Since the Trump administration began operations against alleged smugglers in early September, this incident adds to a total of 36 strikes against similar vessels, raising concerns about the legality and human rights implications of such military actions, highlighted by latimes and cbsnews.