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NewsWPLG Local 10 – Main FeedAugust 24, 2026Miami-Dade

U.S. military strikes vessel in eastern Pacific, killing two

The U.S. Southern Command conducted a lethal strike on a low-profile vessel in the eastern Pacific Ocean on Sunday, resulting in two deaths. This action marks the first such strike in over two months and is part of an ongoing campaign targeting alleged drug-trafficking boats.

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Why It Matters

The U.S. military's ongoing campaign against vessels in the eastern Pacific and Caribbean has resulted in 223 deaths and the destruction of 68 craft since September 2025, raising ongoing questions about the legality and effectiveness of these operations.

Key Facts

  • Two people were killed in a U.S. military strike on a vessel in the eastern Pacific on Sunday.
  • This is the first strike in over two months.
  • The total death toll of the campaign is 223 people across 67 strikes.
  • The campaign has destroyed 64 speedboats, three low-profile ships, and one semisubmersible craft.
  • There have been over 20 search and rescue efforts, with only three people successfully rescued.
  • The campaign began in early September 2025.
  • The Trump administration is seeking agreements with Colombia, Guatemala, and Honduras to conduct joint operations on land.
  • Guatemala has denied reaching a land-based operations agreement with the U.S.
  • The Pentagon's inspector general is reviewing whether the military followed the Joint Targeting Cycle, though not the legality of the strikes themselves.

Who's Mentioned

locationEcuador“Country involved in joint missions.”locationVenezuela“Site of recent earthquakes.”locationGuatemala“Country involved in potential joint operations.”locationColombia“Country involved in potential joint operations.”personFrancis Donovan“General leading U.S. Southern Command.”personPete Hegseth“Defense Secretary.”organizationU.S. Southern Command“The military command responsible for the strikes.”locationHonduras“Country involved in potential joint operations.”personDonald Trump“President of the United States.”