The U.S. military announced on Sunday its latest strike against suspected drug-trafficking vessels in the Southern Hemisphere, which killed three people.
As is customary at this point, the operation was approved by Gen. Francis L. Donovan. It targeted “narco-terrorists” who were allegedly trafficking narcotics along previously known drug-trafficking routes in the Caribbean.
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U.S. Southern Command announced the latest strike in a press release on its website and through multiple social media platforms.
“On April 19, at the direction of the commander of U.S. Southern Command, Gen. Francis L. Donovan, Joint Task Force Southern Spear conducted a lethal kinetic strike on a vessel operated by Designated Terrorist Organizations,” read the Southern Command release.
In a video posted on Southern Command’s website and social media channels, a boat is seen riding in water before being struck, and a massive explosion occurs, leaving it in flames.
U.S. intelligence operations determined the suspected vessel was part of a “narco-terrorist” operation and was illegally transporting drugs out of the region, Southern Command said.
“Intelligence confirmed the vessel was transiting along known narco-trafficking routes in the Caribbean and was engaged in narco-trafficking operations,” noted the release.
“Three male narco-terrorists were killed during this action,” said Southern Command. “No U.S. military forces were harmed.”
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Sunday’s strike was the latest in a very active week for military forces involved in Operation Southern Spear. The first two strikes this month occurred on April 11, in which five people were killed in an operation in the Eastern Pacific. Several other strikes in Operation Southern Spear followed, ultimately leaving 14 suspected “narco-terrorists” killed.
Sunday’s operation was the 52nd known strike since the military’s campaign against suspected drug-trafficking vessels began in September, with at least 180 known fatalities reported.
