The U.S. military has carried out a deadly strike on a suspected drug-trafficking vessel in the Eastern Pacific Ocean, killing two individuals described as “narco-terrorists,” according to officials.

United States Southern Command said intelligence had identified the vessel as operating along known trafficking routes and actively involved in narcotics activity. The strike was ordered by commander Francis L. Donovan and executed by a specialized unit targeting what was described as a vessel linked to a designated terrorist organization, News.Az reports, citing foreign media.

Authorities said two men were killed during the operation. No further details were provided about their identities or the circumstances leading up to the strike.

The action is part of a broader campaign launched by the administration of Donald Trump, which has intensified military operations in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific since late last year in an effort to combat drug trafficking networks. Officials say at least 163 people have been killed since the campaign began.

The strategy has drawn criticism from some observers, who argue that such operations risk bypassing legal due process. Critics say the strikes resemble extrajudicial actions, where suspects are targeted without the opportunity to defend themselves in court.

Supporters of the approach, however, argue that increasingly sophisticated trafficking networks require stronger and faster responses, particularly in regions where criminal groups operate across borders and beyond the reach of traditional law enforcement.

The latest strike highlights the growing militarization of anti-drug efforts and raises fresh questions about the balance between security objectives and legal accountability.

News.Az 

By Aysel Mammadzada