US military says two killed in strike on alleged drug boat

February 6, 2026

The U.S. military has conducted a lethal strike on a vessel in the Eastern Pacific Ocean suspected of drug trafficking, resulting in two deaths on Thursday. This operation is part of a broader military campaign launched in September that has involved at least 38 deadly attacks, claiming 128 lives total, as forces target boats believed to be smuggling narcotics from Latin America. The Trump administration has defended these actions as necessary to combat drug trafficking organizations, though the frequency of strikes has decreased significantly following the January capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.

Who is affected

Two people killed in Thursday's strike
128 people total killed across all strikes since September
Families of two Trinidadian men killed in an October 14 strike (who have filed a lawsuit)
Suspected drug smugglers and individuals traveling on vessels in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific
US military forces conducting the operations
Communities affected by drug trafficking flows from Latin America to the US
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro (captured in January)

What action is being taken

US military forces are striking vessels suspected of carrying drugs in the Eastern Pacific Ocean and Caribbean
The families of two Trinidadian men are pursuing a lawsuit against the American government
US officials are facing bipartisan scrutiny over the operations

Why it matters

This campaign represents a significant escalation in U.S. military operations against drug trafficking, raising fundamental questions about the legal boundaries of military force in counter-narcotics efforts. The operations blur traditional lines between law enforcement and military action by treating drug interdiction as armed conflict rather than criminal justice. The high death toll, lack of due process, and allegations of violations of international law have sparked legal challenges and bipartisan concern about accountability, potentially setting problematic precedents for how the U.S. conducts operations abroad.

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: BBC