US Conducts Deadly Boat Strike in Eastern Pacific, Killing Two

On January 23, 2026, the United States carried out a lethal strike on a vessel in the eastern Pacific Ocean, resulting in two fatalities and one individual reported missing. The U.S. Southern Command confirmed the operation, stating that the targeted vessel was engaged in narcotics trafficking along established routes.

This marks the first such operation in 2026, following a series of similar actions initiated in September 2025. To date, at least 36 strikes have been conducted, leading to approximately 125 deaths in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific regions.

The recent strike is also the first since the U.S. military's full-scale operation in Venezuela on January 3, which resulted in the capture of former President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. Both are currently detained in New York on narcotics trafficking charges.

Human rights advocates and international observers have expressed concern over the legality and humanitarian implications of these operations, likening them to extrajudicial killings. The U.S. government maintains that these actions are necessary to combat international drug trafficking and associated criminal activities.