The U.S. military has carried out a new lethal strike against a vessel it says was actively involved in narco trafficking in the Eastern Pacific.
On August 23, 2026, Joint Task Force Western Hemisphere conducted the strike under the direction of U.S. Southern Command Commander Gen. Francis L. Donovan. According to SOUTHCOM, confirmed intelligence showed that the low profile vessel was actively involved in narco trafficking, and two narco traffickers were neutralized.
The operation is significant because Joint Task Force Western Hemisphere was established earlier in August as SOUTHCOM’s operational force for confronting narco terrorist networks and other threats across the Western Hemisphere. This was the first publicly announced vessel strike carried out by the new task force.
Gen. Donovan said the operation demonstrates SOUTHCOM’s intention to take direct action against cartel networks and disrupt their operations.
Video CR to U.S. Central Command.
Watch the official footage of the Eastern Pacific strike:
