ST. THOMAS / INTERNATIONAL WATERS — While the Virgin Islands slept Friday night, the U.S. military launched its first lethal strike of the new year against a suspected drug vessel, leaving two dead and a third person missing at sea.
The strike, authorized by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, targeted a multi-engine boat in the Eastern Pacific that U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) claims was operated by “Designated Terrorist Organizations.”
The Explosion
Video released by SOUTHCOM shows the vessel cutting through the water at high speed before being obliterated by a “kinetic strike”—military-speak for a targeted explosion.
- The Toll: Two people on board were killed instantly.
- The Survivor: One individual managed to survive the blast and was seen in the water.
- The Search: The U.S. Coast Guard was notified to begin search-and-rescue operations for the lone survivor, though no recovery has been confirmed as of Saturday morning.
A New Era of Enforcement
This marks the 36th such strike since the “Operation Southern Spear” campaign began last September, bringing the total death toll to approximately 125 people. It is also the first maritime strike since the dramatic January 3 capture of Nicolás Maduro in Venezuela.
While the administration touts a “near 100% stop” of waterborne drugs, international human rights groups are raising alarms. Critics argue these “double-tap” strikes and high-seas explosions amount to extrajudicial killings, as no evidence of narcotics is typically recovered from the sunken wreckage.