US military strike in Eastern Pacific kills two suspected narco-terrorists

The US military destroyed a suspected drug-trafficking vessel in the Eastern Pacific on Monday, February 9, killing two individuals.

According to a statement issued by US Southern Command (Southcom), the vessel was being operated by a “terrorist organization” and was intercepted while navigating “known drug-trafficking routes” in the Pacific Ocean. Officials stated the craft was actively engaged in “narcotics smuggling” operations.

It remains unclear which specific terrorist group Southcom was referencing in its statement. Following the strike, Southcom reported that it had alerted the US Coast Guard to initiate a search and rescue operation at the site.

An 11-second video of the engagement shows the US military firing at least three times at the vessel as it sped through the water.

Monday’s strike marks the second such maritime operation this month. Last week, the US military destroyed another suspected trafficking vessel in the Eastern Pacific, resulting in the deaths of two individuals described as “narco-terrorists.”

Since September 2, the US military has conducted at least 38 strikes across the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific, killing at least 130 “narco-terrorists.”

The Trump administration maintains that these aggressive strikes are a necessary component of its strategy to halt the flow of illegal drugs into the region and ensure the security of the US.