US Strike Reportedly Kills Two Alleged Drug Traffickers in Pacific

US Southern Command struck a low-profile vessel in the Eastern Pacific on Sunday, killing two people the Pentagon says were trafficking drugs.

• 210-plus people have been killed across more than 60 strikes since the campaign began.
• 67th strike is believed to have occurred under Operation Southern Spear, launched last September.
• Video released by SOUTHCOM shows a boat on water, then a large explosion.
• Guatemala denied agreeing to joint US military operations on its soil after Hegseth's Panama announcement.

Why it matters: The strikes mark a sustained US military campaign against suspected drug traffickers operating outside US territory, with no formal declaration of war.

• The Trump administration has not provided definitive evidence the targeted vessels were involved in drug trafficking.
• Legal experts and human rights groups warn the strikes may constitute extrajudicial killings.

How 30 sources split on this story

Where they split: The core dispute is whether the strikes are a legitimate use of military force against narco-terrorists or legally questionable extrajudicial killings of unverified targets.

What’s next: The Pentagon inspector general is reviewing targeting procedures but not the strikes' legal authority.

• Hegseth has announced plans for joint land operations in Colombia, Guatemala, and Honduras.
• What evidence, if any, does the US have that those killed were actively involved in drug trafficking?
• Will Guatemala's denial of any agreement block US land operations there, and how will other countries respond?
• What will the Pentagon inspector general's review conclude about targeting procedures?