The U.S. military conducted its latest operation as part of Operation Southern Spear on Thursday, killing two suspected “narco-terrorists” in the Eastern Pacific Ocean. The strikes were announced in a social media post on X by U.S. Southern Command.
“On Feb. 5, at the direction of #SOUTHCOM Commander Gen. Francis L. Donovan, Joint Task Force Southern Spear conducted a lethal kinetic strike on a vessel operated by Designated Terrorist Organizations,” read the post. “Intelligence confirmed the vessel was transiting along known narco-trafficking routes in the Eastern Pacific and was engaged in narco-trafficking operations. Two narco-terrorists were killed during this action. No U.S. military forces were harmed.”
On Feb. 5, at the direction of #SOUTHCOM Commander Gen. Francis L. Donovan, Joint Task Force Southern Spear conducted a lethal kinetic strike on a vessel operated by Designated Terrorist Organizations. Intelligence confirmed the vessel was transiting along known narco-trafficking… pic.twitter.com/B3ctyN1lke
— U.S. Southern Command (@Southcom) February 6, 2026
It is the first military strike on a suspected drug trafficking vessel since Jan. 23, in which there were also two people killed in the Eastern Pacific. So far, at least 119 suspected drug traffickers have been killed in military strikes as part of Operation Southern Spear that President Donald Trump authorized in Sept. 2025.
Earlier on Thursday, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said on X that Operation Southern Spear has caused some “top cartel drug-traffickers” to stop their activities due to the “recent (highly effective) kinetic strikes in the Caribbean.”
“This is deterrence through strength,” Hegseth said. “@POTUS is SAVING American lives.”
WINNING: Some top cartel drug-traffickers in the @SOUTHCOM AOR have decided to cease all narcotics operations INDEFINITELY due to recent (highly effective) kinetic strikes in the Caribbean.
This is deterrence through strength. @POTUS is SAVING American lives.
— Pete Hegseth (@PeteHegseth) February 5, 2026
The latest strike comes on the same day Gen. Francis L. Donovan assumed command of U.S. Southern Command. Donovan will “oversee U.S. military operations and engagements across Latin America and the Caribbean.”
“Together with our partner nations, we will continue to address shared challenges, uphold democratic values, and ensure a safe and prosperous future for the region.”- #SOUTHCOM Commander Gen. Francis L. Donovan.
Gen. Donovan took command of SOUTHCOM today and will oversee U.S.… pic.twitter.com/sLN6Q2BG5f
— U.S. Southern Command (@Southcom) February 6, 2026
“It is an honor to assume command of U.S. Southern Command and to lead a warfighting headquarters capable of joint operations at range, speed, and scale with the dedicated men and women who work tirelessly to strengthen security, stability, and partnerships across the Western Hemisphere,” Donovan said in a statement quoted on X. “Together with our partner nations, we will continue to address shared challenges, uphold democratic values, and ensure a safe and prosperous future for the region.”