Print
Close
US kills 3 suspected narco-traffickers in Caribbean, Pentagon says
By Anders Hagstrom, Greg Wehner
Published February 23, 2026
U.S. forces launched a deadly operation in the Caribbean on Monday, striking a suspected narco-trafficking vessel tied to designated terrorist organizations, officials said.
The mission, carried out by Joint Task Force Southern Spear under the direction of SOUTHCOM commander Gen. Francis L. Donovan, left three alleged narco-terrorists dead and no U.S. personnel injured, according to U.S. Southern Command.
That announcement was detailed in a statement posted to X:
"On Feb. 23, at the direction of #SOUTHCOM commander Gen. Francis L. Donovan, Joint Task Force Southern Spear conducted a lethal kinetic strike on a vessel operated by Designated Terrorist Organizations," U.S. Southern Command posted on X. "Intelligence confirmed the vessel was transiting along known narco-trafficking routes in the Caribbean and was engaged in narco-trafficking operations. Three male narco-terrorists were killed during this action. No U.S. military forces were harmed."
US MILITARY STRIKES NARCO-TERRORIST VESSELS IN LATEST EASTERN PACIFIC DRUG TRAFFICKING OPERATION
The strike comes two days after SOUTHCOM struck another suspected drug vessel, but in the Pacific Ocean, which was the fourth to occur last week.
"Intelligence confirmed the vessel was transiting along known narco-trafficking routes in the Eastern Pacific and was engaged in narco-trafficking operations," SOUTHCOM said on X. "Three male narco-terrorists were killed during this action. No U.S. military forces were harmed."
U.S. Southern Command carried out a drone strike against suspected narco-terrorists in the Caribbean on Monday, February 23. (US Southern Command)
The U.S. has now carried out at least 43 strikes on alleged drug-smuggling vessels, killing 150 people in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific.
SOUTHCOM is responsible for military operations in Central and South America and the Caribbean, including counter-narcotics missions focused on disrupting drug trafficking networks that threaten U.S. interests.
The Pentagon says it carried out three strikes against narco-terrorist vessels on Monday. (Pentagon)
Earlier last week, SOUTHCOM announced it had carried out three strikes in the Eastern Pacific and Caribbean, killing 11.
"Eleven male narco-terrorists were killed during these actions, 4 on the first vessel in the Eastern Pacific, 4 on the second vessel in the Eastern Pacific, and 3 on the third vessel in the Caribbean," it said.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
No American forces were harmed in those operations either, according to the command.
Fox News Digital’s Greg Norman-Diamond contributed to this report.
https://www.foxnews.com/us/us-kills-3-suspected-narco-traffickers-caribbean-pentagon-says