US Military Kills Two in Latest Eastern Pacific Boat Strike as Death Toll Passes 130
US Southern Command carried out another lethal strike against an alleged drug-trafficking vessel in the eastern Pacific, killing two people. Rights groups and legal scholars continue to condemn the operations as extrajudicial killings.
Feb 10, 2026, 04:04 AM
The United States military killed two people in a strike on a boat in the eastern Pacific Ocean on Monday, bringing the confirmed death toll from its controversial campaign against suspected drug-trafficking vessels to at least 130 since September 2025 US says two people killed in military strike on boat in Pacifictheguardian.com·SecondaryOfficials say rescuers searching for lone survivor after latest attack on what Pentagon says are suspected drug smugglers The US military’s Southern Command, which oversee operations in Latin America and the Caribbean, announced that it carried out another deadly strike on Monday, killing two suspected drug smugglers in the eastern Pacific..
US Southern Command, which oversees military operations in Latin America and the Caribbean, said the strike was carried out at the direction of its new commander, General Francis L. Donovan, who was sworn in at a Pentagon ceremony last Thursday US says two people killed in military strike on boat in Pacifictheguardian.com·SecondaryOfficials say rescuers searching for lone survivor after latest attack on what Pentagon says are suspected drug smugglers The US military’s Southern Command, which oversee operations in Latin America and the Caribbean, announced that it carried out another deadly strike on Monday, killing two suspected drug smugglers in the eastern Pacific.. Donovan takes over from Admiral Alvin Holsey, who chose to retire over reported disagreements with the boat-strike policy US says two people killed in military strike on boat in Pacifictheguardian.com·SecondaryOfficials say rescuers searching for lone survivor after latest attack on what Pentagon says are suspected drug smugglers The US military’s Southern Command, which oversee operations in Latin America and the Caribbean, announced that it carried out another deadly strike on Monday, killing two suspected drug smugglers in the eastern Pacific..
The Strike
SOUTHCOM described the attack as a lethal kinetic strike against a vessel it alleged was transiting along known narco-trafficking routes in the eastern Pacific . The command released a 10-second video showing a small motorised boat in military crosshairs before it was hit, triggering an explosion US kills two people in attack on boat in eastern Pacific, one survivoraljazeera.com·SecondaryThe United States military has attacked a boat in the eastern Pacific Ocean, killing two people, and notifying the US coastguard that one person survived the strike. The US Southern Command, which oversees military operations in Latin America and the Caribbean, said the “lethal kinetic strike” was carried out on Monday against a vessel, which it alleged was involved in drug trafficking without providing any evidence. “Two narco-terrorists were killed and one survived the strike.. Some of the vessel's structure appeared to remain intact after the blast, though it slowed significantly US kills two people in attack on boat in eastern Pacific, one survivoraljazeera.com·SecondaryThe United States military has attacked a boat in the eastern Pacific Ocean, killing two people, and notifying the US coastguard that one person survived the strike. The US Southern Command, which oversees military operations in Latin America and the Caribbean, said the “lethal kinetic strike” was carried out on Monday against a vessel, which it alleged was involved in drug trafficking without providing any evidence. “Two narco-terrorists were killed and one survived the strike..
The military said two people were killed and one person survived the strike . SOUTHCOM said it notified the US Coast Guard to activate search-and-rescue operations for the survivor, though it did not provide details on the survivor's medical condition or the likelihood of rescue US kills two people in attack on boat in eastern Pacific, one survivoraljazeera.com·SecondaryThe United States military has attacked a boat in the eastern Pacific Ocean, killing two people, and notifying the US coastguard that one person survived the strike. The US Southern Command, which oversees military operations in Latin America and the Caribbean, said the “lethal kinetic strike” was carried out on Monday against a vessel, which it alleged was involved in drug trafficking without providing any evidence. “Two narco-terrorists were killed and one survived the strike..
Escalating Death Toll
According to Pentagon statements tallied by the Intercept, at least 130 people have now been killed in approximately 38 strikes since the campaign began in September 2025 US says two people killed in military strike on boat in Pacifictheguardian.com·SecondaryOfficials say rescuers searching for lone survivor after latest attack on what Pentagon says are suspected drug smugglers The US military’s Southern Command, which oversee operations in Latin America and the Caribbean, announced that it carried out another deadly strike on Monday, killing two suspected drug smugglers in the eastern Pacific.. Media organisations and monitors tracking the operations put the figure at some 37 attacks against 39 vessels across the eastern Pacific and Caribbean US kills two people in attack on boat in eastern Pacific, one survivoraljazeera.com·SecondaryThe United States military has attacked a boat in the eastern Pacific Ocean, killing two people, and notifying the US coastguard that one person survived the strike. The US Southern Command, which oversees military operations in Latin America and the Caribbean, said the “lethal kinetic strike” was carried out on Monday against a vessel, which it alleged was involved in drug trafficking without providing any evidence. “Two narco-terrorists were killed and one survived the strike..
The latest strike follows another attack last week in the same region that killed two additional people US kills two people in attack on boat in eastern Pacific, one survivoraljazeera.com·SecondaryThe United States military has attacked a boat in the eastern Pacific Ocean, killing two people, and notifying the US coastguard that one person survived the strike. The US Southern Command, which oversees military operations in Latin America and the Caribbean, said the “lethal kinetic strike” was carried out on Monday against a vessel, which it alleged was involved in drug trafficking without providing any evidence. “Two narco-terrorists were killed and one survived the strike.. The pace of operations has not slowed despite mounting international criticism.
Legal and Human Rights Concerns
Legal scholars, human rights workers and regional leaders have accused the United States of carrying out extrajudicial killings by acting as judge, jury and executioner against people suspected of drug trafficking US kills two people in attack on boat in eastern Pacific, one survivoraljazeera.com·SecondaryThe United States military has attacked a boat in the eastern Pacific Ocean, killing two people, and notifying the US coastguard that one person survived the strike. The US Southern Command, which oversees military operations in Latin America and the Caribbean, said the “lethal kinetic strike” was carried out on Monday against a vessel, which it alleged was involved in drug trafficking without providing any evidence. “Two narco-terrorists were killed and one survived the strike.. A broad range of legal specialists on the use of lethal force have argued that the strikes are illegal because the military cannot deliberately target civilians who do not pose an imminent threat of violence US says two people killed in military strike on boat in Pacifictheguardian.com·SecondaryOfficials say rescuers searching for lone survivor after latest attack on what Pentagon says are suspected drug smugglers The US military’s Southern Command, which oversee operations in Latin America and the Caribbean, announced that it carried out another deadly strike on Monday, killing two suspected drug smugglers in the eastern Pacific..
The Trump administration has faced particular scrutiny over reports that the first such attack in September 2025 included a follow-up strike that killed survivors clinging to the wreckage of a destroyed boat US kills two people in attack on boat in eastern Pacific, one survivoraljazeera.com·SecondaryThe United States military has attacked a boat in the eastern Pacific Ocean, killing two people, and notifying the US coastguard that one person survived the strike. The US Southern Command, which oversees military operations in Latin America and the Caribbean, said the “lethal kinetic strike” was carried out on Monday against a vessel, which it alleged was involved in drug trafficking without providing any evidence. “Two narco-terrorists were killed and one survived the strike.. Legal experts said the military committed a crime if it killed shipwreck survivors US kills two people in attack on boat in eastern Pacific, one survivoraljazeera.com·SecondaryThe United States military has attacked a boat in the eastern Pacific Ocean, killing two people, and notifying the US coastguard that one person survived the strike. The US Southern Command, which oversees military operations in Latin America and the Caribbean, said the “lethal kinetic strike” was carried out on Monday against a vessel, which it alleged was involved in drug trafficking without providing any evidence. “Two narco-terrorists were killed and one survived the strike..
SOUTHCOM did not provide evidence that the targeted vessel was involved in drug trafficking US kills two people in attack on boat in eastern Pacific, one survivoraljazeera.com·SecondaryThe United States military has attacked a boat in the eastern Pacific Ocean, killing two people, and notifying the US coastguard that one person survived the strike. The US Southern Command, which oversees military operations in Latin America and the Caribbean, said the “lethal kinetic strike” was carried out on Monday against a vessel, which it alleged was involved in drug trafficking without providing any evidence. “Two narco-terrorists were killed and one survived the strike.. The command has consistently used the term narco-terrorists to describe those killed in the strikes, a characterisation that critics say prejudges guilt without trial.
Broader Military Operations
The boat strike came on the same day that US military forces boarded a sanctioned tanker, the Aquila II, in the Indian Ocean as part of an oil quarantine targeting Venezuela US says two people killed in military strike on boat in Pacifictheguardian.com·SecondaryOfficials say rescuers searching for lone survivor after latest attack on what Pentagon says are suspected drug smugglers The US military’s Southern Command, which oversee operations in Latin America and the Caribbean, announced that it carried out another deadly strike on Monday, killing two suspected drug smugglers in the eastern Pacific.. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said the Panamanian-flagged vessel had been tracked from the Caribbean Sea after fleeing the Venezuelan coast following the US raid to apprehend then-President Nicolas Maduro in early January US says two people killed in military strike on boat in Pacifictheguardian.com·SecondaryOfficials say rescuers searching for lone survivor after latest attack on what Pentagon says are suspected drug smugglers The US military’s Southern Command, which oversee operations in Latin America and the Caribbean, announced that it carried out another deadly strike on Monday, killing two suspected drug smugglers in the eastern Pacific..
Hegseth told shipyard workers in Maine that he had instructed military commanders to pursue all fleeing tankers regardless of distance, stating that the administration would go around the globe if necessary to capture them US says two people killed in military strike on boat in Pacifictheguardian.com·SecondaryOfficials say rescuers searching for lone survivor after latest attack on what Pentagon says are suspected drug smugglers The US military’s Southern Command, which oversee operations in Latin America and the Caribbean, announced that it carried out another deadly strike on Monday, killing two suspected drug smugglers in the eastern Pacific.. The Trump administration has seized seven tankers as part of its broader efforts to control Venezuelan oil US says two people killed in military strike on boat in Pacifictheguardian.com·SecondaryOfficials say rescuers searching for lone survivor after latest attack on what Pentagon says are suspected drug smugglers The US military’s Southern Command, which oversee operations in Latin America and the Caribbean, announced that it carried out another deadly strike on Monday, killing two suspected drug smugglers in the eastern Pacific..
The Aquila II, which is owned by a company with a listed address in Hong Kong and has spent much of the past year operating with its radio transponder turned off, is being held while its fate is decided by the United States US says two people killed in military strike on boat in Pacifictheguardian.com·SecondaryOfficials say rescuers searching for lone survivor after latest attack on what Pentagon says are suspected drug smugglers The US military’s Southern Command, which oversee operations in Latin America and the Caribbean, announced that it carried out another deadly strike on Monday, killing two suspected drug smugglers in the eastern Pacific.. According to ship tracking data, the vessel was not carrying a cargo of crude oil when it was boarded US says two people killed in military strike on boat in Pacifictheguardian.com·SecondaryOfficials say rescuers searching for lone survivor after latest attack on what Pentagon says are suspected drug smugglers The US military’s Southern Command, which oversee operations in Latin America and the Caribbean, announced that it carried out another deadly strike on Monday, killing two suspected drug smugglers in the eastern Pacific..
Command Transition
The leadership change at SOUTHCOM adds a significant dimension to the ongoing operations. Admiral Holsey's reported departure over policy disagreements suggests internal military dissent over the strike campaign US says two people killed in military strike on boat in Pacifictheguardian.com·SecondaryOfficials say rescuers searching for lone survivor after latest attack on what Pentagon says are suspected drug smugglers The US military’s Southern Command, which oversee operations in Latin America and the Caribbean, announced that it carried out another deadly strike on Monday, killing two suspected drug smugglers in the eastern Pacific.. General Donovan's willingness to order a lethal strike within days of assuming command signals continuity in the aggressive posture US says two people killed in military strike on boat in Pacifictheguardian.com·SecondaryOfficials say rescuers searching for lone survivor after latest attack on what Pentagon says are suspected drug smugglers The US military’s Southern Command, which oversee operations in Latin America and the Caribbean, announced that it carried out another deadly strike on Monday, killing two suspected drug smugglers in the eastern Pacific..
The Colombian and Venezuelan governments have accused the United States of extrajudicial murder, while the Republican-controlled US Senate has twice rejected resolutions that would have curtailed the operations. The campaign shows no signs of abating as the Pentagon continues to frame it as a counter-narcotics mission essential to national security.
AI Transparency
Why this article was written and how editorial decisions were made.
Why This Topic
The US military's ongoing campaign of lethal strikes against suspected drug-trafficking vessels represents one of the most significant and controversial uses of American military force in 2025-2026. This latest strike, the 38th documented, pushes the death toll past 130 — a figure that has drawn condemnation from legal scholars, human rights organisations, and multiple governments. The simultaneous leadership transition at SOUTHCOM, with Admiral Holsey retiring over policy disagreements and his replacement immediately ordering a new strike, adds significant news value. The convergence of the boat strike with the Aquila II tanker seizure in the Indian Ocean demonstrates the expanding geographic scope of US military operations linked to the Venezuela crisis.
Source Selection
This article draws on two tier-1 international news sources: The Guardian and Al Jazeera, both of which provide detailed, independently reported accounts of the strike. The Guardian article by Robert Mackey includes unique details about the SOUTHCOM leadership transition, the Aquila II tanker seizure, and Defense Secretary Hegseth's statements. The Al Jazeera report by Erin Hale provides critical framing around the legal concerns and the broader pattern of strikes, including the absence of evidence presented by SOUTHCOM. Together, the sources offer complementary perspectives — The Guardian providing more operational detail and Al Jazeera emphasising the human rights and legal dimensions. Both sources cite Pentagon statements directly, enabling cross-verification of key facts.
Editorial Decisions
This article covers the latest US SOUTHCOM lethal strike in the eastern Pacific alongside the Aquila II tanker seizure in the Indian Ocean, both occurring on the same day. The framing centres the human cost and legal criticism alongside the Pentagon's justifications. We deliberately included the broader context of the Venezuela oil quarantine to show how the boat strikes fit within a wider pattern of US military operations in the region. Excluded: detailed operational specifics of past individual strikes, and partisan US domestic political debate beyond the Senate votes, to maintain international news focus. The death toll figures come from both the Pentagon's own statements (via the Intercept tally) and Al Jazeera's independent monitoring, which differ slightly in methodology but converge on approximately 130 killed.
Reader Ratings
About the Author
Sources
- 1.theguardian.comSecondary
- 2.aljazeera.comSecondary
Editorial Reviews
1 approved · 0 rejectedPrevious Draft Feedback (2)
• filler_and_redundancy scored 4/3 minimum: The piece is generally economical and avoids obvious repetition, though a few sentences reiterate the same point (casualty counts and campaign pace) in adjacent paragraphs. • language_and_clarity scored 4/3 minimum: Writing is mostly clear and direct; politically charged terms like “narco-terrorists” are noted and critiqued, but the article could do more to define such labels and specify the actions or policies that justify them. Warnings: • [article_quality] depth_and_context scored 3 (borderline): The article provides key facts, chronology and some background (start date, death toll, command change) but lacks deeper context on legal frameworks, operational rules of engagement, regional political dynamics, or historical precedents that would explain why the campaign matters long-term. • [article_quality] narrative_structure scored 3 (borderline): There is a clear lede and topical subheads that organize facts, but the nut graf is weak (the first sentence is factual but doesn't fully explain the significance) and the piece ends abruptly without a strong closing or synthesis. • [article_quality] perspective_diversity scored 3 (borderline): The article includes statements from SOUTHCOM, criticism from legal scholars and regional governments, and reporting on Congressional votes, but it lacks direct voices from survivors, local authorities, independent investigators, or defense spokespeople offering detailed counterarguments. • [article_quality] analytical_value scored 2 (borderline): The draft mostly reports events and allegations with limited interpretation; it touches on implications (legal concerns, leadership change) but fails to analyze likely policy outcomes, international law ramifications, or strategic motives in depth. • [article_quality] publication_readiness scored 4 (borderline): The draft reads like a near-ready news piece with subheads and sourced claims, but it needs a stronger lede/nut graf, additional sourcing or on-the-record quotations, and a tighter closing before publication.
1 gate errors: • [article_quality] publication_readiness scored 3/4 minimum: The article is largely clean and structured for publication, but it contains section headings and numbered source markers which are acceptable, yet lacks attributed quotes, sourcing clarity in-body, and a tighter closing—minor edits and added sourcing would be needed before publishing.
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