What changed in this update
Since then, more than 200 people have been killed in U.S. strikes in the eastern Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea.
Event intelligence
US strikes on alleged drug boats in Pacific and Caribbean
4 connected story threads
Current state
The U.S. military's campaign of strikes on suspected drug-smuggling vessels in the eastern Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea continues. Its latest reported strike, on 27 October 2026 in the eastern Pacific, killed five people, raising the reported cumulative death toll to at least 240 in more than 70 strikes since September 2025. A UN special rapporteur has concluded there are reasonable grounds to believe the attacks violated international law and could constitute crimes against humanity, while U
Grounded in 5 reports across 4 sources
What changed
New reporting revised the cumulative death toll from 243 to at least 240 and placed the total number of strikes above 70.
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Source coverage
Source reports
CBS
U.S. destroys alleged drug-smuggling boat in Pacific, killing 2 people
Since then, more than 200 people have been killed in U.S. strikes in the eastern Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea.
Guardian
US strikes a vessel in the eastern Pacific, killing 2 people in first attack in months
Euronews
US strike on alleged drug-smuggling boat in Pacific Ocean kills at least two
The US military launched operation "Southern Spear" in early September, with President Donald Trump arguing Washington is effectively at war with drug cartels operating out of Latin America.
