One of the three boats shortly before the attack. Image: X
Feb 17, 2026, 7:23 p.mFeb 17, 2026, 7:23 p.m
Within a short period of time, the US military attacked three boats carrying suspected drug smugglers in the Eastern Pacific and the Caribbean. Eleven people were killed, as the responsible regional command (Southcom) announced on platform X. The boats were traveling on known drug smuggling routes. Such an accumulation of attacks in a short period of time is unusual. There has usually been some time between attacks.
Late on Feb. 16, at the direction of #SOUTHCOM Commander Gen. Francis L. Donovan, Joint Task Force Southern Spear conducted three lethal kinetic strikes on three vessels operated by Designated Terrorist Organizations. Intelligence confirmed the vessels were transiting along known… pic.twitter.com/mib9XtptSB
— US Southern Command (@Southcom) February 17, 2026
Eleven alleged drug smugglers were killed in the attacks.
Since last fall, the government of US President Donald Trump has repeatedly attacked boats in the Caribbean and the Eastern Pacific in order to prevent international drug smuggling. Critics doubt whether the deadly attacks in international waters are permissible under international law. According to official information, around 130 people have already been killed. (sda/dpa)