US strikes vessel in eastern Pacific

On August 23, 2026, U.S. Southern Command conducted a lethal kinetic strike on a low-profile vessel in the eastern Pacific, killing two people accused of drug trafficking. This was the first such strike in over two months, following a pause after the June 24 earthquakes in Venezuela. The strike brings the total death toll to 223 people killed in 67 strikes during the nearly year-long U.S. campaign against alleged drug boats off Latin America's Caribbean coast and in the eastern Pacific. The campaign has destroyed 64 speedboats, three low-profile ships, and a semisubmersible craft. The U.S. military has not provided evidence that the vessels were carrying drugs. The Trump administration is pursuing agreements with allied nations to extend the offensive to land operations across Latin America. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced during a visit to Panama that Colombia, Guatemala, and Honduras had agreed to allow joint U.S. military operations on their soil, though Guatemala denied reaching such a deal. Ecuador launched similar missions with the U.S. in March. Critics question the legality and effectiveness of the strikes, noting that fentanyl is typically trafficked over land from Mexico. The United States — The Pentagon's watchdog is investigating whether the military followed targeting procedures.