The United States military has carried out air and naval strikes against three vessels suspected of drug trafficking in the Eastern Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea, resulting in the deaths of 11 people, the U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) announced on February 17, 2026. The strikes are part of an ongoing campaign against maritime drug smuggling known as Operation Southern Spear, which began in September 2025 and has targeted dozens of small boats alleged to be transporting illicit drugs along established trafficking routes.
US Southern Command Statement and Details of the Strikes
According to SOUTHCOM, two of the vessels were struck in the Eastern Pacific Ocean, where four people were killed on each boat, and a third was hit in the Caribbean Sea, killing three people. No U.S. military personnel were harmed during the operations.
The Pentagon released statements indicating that intelligence suggested the vessels were travelling along known narcotics trafficking routes and were being operated by personnel “engaged in narco-trafficking operations.” Videos posted on social media by the command showed the boats either moving or stationary before they were destroyed by missiles or other ordnance.
Part of a Larger Anti-Trafficking Campaign
These latest strikes bring the death toll in this campaign to at least 145 people since the beginning of the operation. In past attacks, U.S. forces struck other suspected smuggling boats in similar waters, killing dozens and sinking multiple vessels as part of maritime counter-narcotics efforts.
Operation Southern Spear has involved a significant naval deployment, including aircraft carriers and guided-missile destroyers, in Caribbean and Pacific waters. The operation was designed by the current U.S. administration to disrupt drug trafficking networks and reduce the flow of narcotics toward the United States.
Controversy and International Reaction
While U.S. officials maintain that these are legitimate counter-drug operations, the campaign has not been without controversy:
- Legal and ethical concerns: Critics, including human rights groups and legal experts, have labelled the strikes as potential extrajudicial killings, warning that military force used without due process may violate international law.
- Lack of clear evidence: Although SOUTHCOM describes the targets as “narco-terrorists” or drug traffickers, clear public evidence linking the individuals killed to major cartel leadership or organized trafficking networks has not been released.
- Regional diplomatic sensitivity: Some South American nations have objected to the unilateral nature of the strikes, and there are questions about sovereignty and the use of military force in international waters without broader regional cooperation.
These responses highlight the diplomatic and legal scrutiny surrounding Operation Southern Spear as it continues.
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Looking Ahead — What This Means
The continuation of these strikes underscores a strategic shift in U.S. military posture in the Western Hemisphere. Officials argue that disrupting drug flows requires proactive measures, while critics worry about setting precedents for military action without clear multilateral frameworks.
Further operations are expected as part of the ongoing campaign, and analysts are tracking how these actions will affect both regional security and international norms regarding military engagement in drug enforcement.
