US Military Strikes on Alleged Drug Traffickers Continue in Caribbean and Pacific
The United States military has continued a series of airstrikes targeting vessels suspected of drug trafficking in the Caribbean Sea and the Eastern Pacific Ocean since September 2025, as part of an operation known as Southern Spear. The strikes, authorized by the Trump administration, aim to disrupt the flow of illicit drugs from Latin America to the US.
Operation Southern Spear: Aims and Scope
Operation Southern Spear represents a significant escalation in the US approach to combating drug trafficking. The administration alleges that the targeted vessels are operated by groups designated as “narco-terrorists,” including the Venezuelan criminal organization Tren de Aragua and the Colombian National Liberation Army. However, the administration has not publicly released evidence to support these claims.
The operation began with the deployment of Navy warships and personnel to the Caribbean in mid-August 2025. In October, the strikes were expanded to include vessels in the Eastern Pacific Ocean.
Casualties and Recent Strikes
As of February 2026, the strikes have resulted in at least 148 confirmed fatalities, including 3 individuals listed as missing and presumed dead. Two individuals have been captured, and two have been extradited.
Recent strikes, conducted on February 17, 2026, resulted in the deaths of eleven individuals across three separate incidents. Four deaths occurred on vessels in the Eastern Pacific, and three in the Caribbean Sea.
The US Southern Command stated that intelligence confirmed the vessels were traveling along known narco-trafficking routes and were engaged in narco-trafficking operations.
Controversy and Legal Concerns
The strikes have drawn criticism from legal experts who question their legality under international law. Concerns have been raised about the targeting of civilians without due process. The Trump administration maintains that the killings are lawful, asserting that the US is in a formal armed conflict with drug cartels and that the crews of the targeted vessels are considered “combatants.”
Critics too point out that the majority of fentanyl, a major driver of drug overdose deaths in the US, is trafficked over land from Mexico, raising questions about the effectiveness of focusing on maritime interdiction.
There have also been reports of the military striking survivors of initial attacks with follow-up strikes, further fueling controversy.
Recent Developments
The frequency of strikes reportedly decreased after US forces captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in early January 2026, who had been accused by the Trump administration of collaborating with drug trafficking groups.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has stated that the overall operation aims to remove “narco-terrorists from our hemisphere” and protect the US from the influx of drugs.