World

Two dead after US strike on boat in the Pacific

By AAP Newswire

Feb 10, 2026

a Air Force B-52H Stratofortress bomber — The US military says it's launched a strike on a boat "engaged in narco-trafficking operations". -AP

The US military has launched a ⁠strike on a vessel in the eastern Pacific, killing two people and leaving one survivor.

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The boat was operated by a group designated as a terrorist organisation, the US Southern Command said, adding that intelligence indicated the vessel was travelling along a known drug trafficking route.

President ‌Donald Trump's administration has touted its success ‍in recent weeks at taking out suspected drug trafficking vessels.

The military said in a post on X that ‌the vessel was "engaged in narco-trafficking operations".

Since September, US forces have repeatedly targeted fast boats in the Caribbean and Pacific allegedly carrying drugs. Official figures show that around 40 attacks have killed almost 130 people.

The most recent US national defence strategy under Trump highlighted military action against suspected drug traffickers as a priority.

Critics question the legality of such lethal strikes in international waters.

Ecuador's Maritime Rescue Coordination Center is co-ordinating the search and rescue operations, the US Coast Guard said in a statement, adding that it is providing technical support.

with dpa