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US Military Kills Three on Pacific Drug Boat in Feb 20 Strike

Updated (7 articles)

Strike Executed by Southern Command on Feb 20 The U.S. Southern Command ordered a kinetic strike on a vessel operating in the eastern Pacific on February 20, 2026, killing three occupants [1]. General Francis L. Donovan directed Joint Task Force Southern Spear to target the boat, which was classified as being run by Designated Terrorist Organizations [1]. No U.S. personnel were injured during the operation, and the strike was announced via SOUTHCOM’s official X account [1].

Operation Southern Spear Cumulative Death Toll The February 20 attack marks the sixth publicly known strike on drug boats in 2026 and the second within a few days, following a Tuesday operation that killed 11 people across three vessels [1]. Cumulative fatalities from Operation Southern Spear now total at least 138 since the campaign began in September [1]. The Trump‑era initiative aims to disrupt narcotics trafficking by employing lethal force against suspected traffickers [1].

Congressional Scrutiny and Coast Guard Role Lawmakers have intensified oversight of the Pacific and Caribbean strikes, questioning the legal and strategic implications of the expanding lethal campaign [1]. The U.S. Coast Guard continues its traditional non‑lethal interdiction efforts, seizing narcotics and boarding vessels without using force [1]. This dual‑track approach reflects a shift from purely law‑enforcement tactics to combined military‑law enforcement operations [1].

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Timeline

Sep 2025 – The Trump administration launches Operation Southern Spear, a kinetic campaign targeting drug‑trafficking vessels in the eastern Pacific and framing the effort as an “armed conflict” with cartels while linking it to pressure on Venezuela [7][4].

Sep 2, 2025 – US forces strike a suspected drug boat in international waters, killing surviving crew members; Admiral Frank “Mitch” Bradley briefs Congress on the operation, sparking bipartisan debate over its legality [7].

Oct 2025 – A US lethal strike on a drug‑trafficking vessel later becomes the basis for a lawsuit alleging extrajudicial killing, filed by families of the victims [2].

Dec 4, 2025 – Joint Task Force Southern Spear fires on a suspected narco‑terrorist boat, killing four crew members; a 21‑second video is posted publicly, and President Trump announces plans to expand strikes to land targets inside Venezuela [7].

Dec 15, 2025 – US forces strike three alleged drug boats in the eastern Pacific, killing eight occupants and marking a rapid escalation of the campaign [6].

Dec 17, 2025 – Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth orders a kinetic strike on another drug‑trafficking vessel, killing four crew members; the Pentagon promises to share video footage only with congressional committees [6].

Dec 18, 2025 – Joint Task Force Southern Spear conducts lethal strikes on two vessels, killing five people; the same day President Trump orders a total blockade of sanctioned Venezuelan oil tankers, prompting Maduro to denounce the move as colonialist [5].

Dec 22, 2025 – US military strikes a low‑profile vessel identified as a drug trafficker, continuing the weekly pattern of lethal engagements [4].

Dec 29, 2025 – A US strike in the eastern Pacific kills two occupants of a suspected drug boat; the operation is directed by Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and raises the cumulative death toll to at least 107 [4].

Dec 30, 2025 – US forces target a suspected trafficking boat, prompting occupants to abandon the vessel; the Coast Guard later suspends the search for survivors [3].

Dec 31, 2025 – A kinetic strike on a drug‑trafficking boat kills five people, pushing the campaign’s death count to at least 112 [3].

Jan 2, 2026 – The US Coast Guard halts its search for survivors of the Dec 30 incident, citing safety concerns after multiple lethal strikes [3].

Jan 23, 2026 – Joint Task Force Southern Spear carries out a kinetic strike that kills two occupants and leaves one survivor; the strike is directed by Pete Hegseth via @SecWar, and the Coast Guard initiates a rescue mission for the survivor [3].

Feb 5, 2026 – New SOUTHCOM commander Gen. Francis L. Donovan orders a lethal strike on a designated‑terrorist vessel, killing two people; the operation marks the second documented boat attack of the year and intensifies legal scrutiny over the campaign’s lawfulness [2].

Feb 20, 2026 – Gen. Francis L. Donovan directs Joint Task Force Southern Spear to conduct a kinetic strike that kills three individuals on an alleged drug boat; cumulative fatalities from Operation Southern Spear rise to at least 138, and Congress intensifies oversight of Pacific and Caribbean strikes [1].

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