U.S. Conducts More Strikes on Alleged Drug Boats, Killing 11

The military says the latest attacks targeted "narco-terrorists" in the Pacific and Caribbean.

Published on Feb. 21, 2026

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The U.S. military has conducted three more strikes on suspected drug boats in the Pacific and Caribbean, killing a total of 11 people. This marks one of the deadliest runs of attacks in the Trump administration's crackdown on what it calls "narco-traffickers." The U.S. has carried out over 40 such strikes since September, resulting in at least 145 deaths, though experts and lawmakers have criticized the attacks as potentially illegal under international law.

Why it matters

The strikes are part of the U.S. government's claim that it is in an "armed conflict" with drug cartels, though the legality and necessity of the attacks have been widely questioned. The campaign has also been seen as a way to pressure the former Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro, who was recently captured by U.S. forces.

The details

In the latest incidents, two strikes were carried out in the eastern Pacific late on Monday, killing 8 "male narco-terrorists," and a third vessel was struck in the Caribbean, killing 3 more. The U.S. military has shared footage of the attacks, which show explosions engulfing the targeted boats. However, the U.S. has not provided evidence about the vessels or the identities of those killed.

  • On February 17, 2026, the U.S. conducted two strikes in the Pacific.
  • On February 17, 2026, the U.S. conducted one strike in the Caribbean.

The players

U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM)

The U.S. military command responsible for operations in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Nicolás Maduro

The former president of Venezuela who was recently captured by U.S. forces and brought to New York to face narco-terrorism charges.

Lance Corporal Chukwuemeka Oforah

A U.S. Marine who died after falling overboard from the USS Iwo Jima amphibious assault ship in the Caribbean, becoming the first known U.S. casualty in the region since the start of the strikes on suspected drug vessels in September.

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What’s next

The judge in the case against Nicolás Maduro will decide on his fate in the coming weeks.

The takeaway

The U.S. military's strikes on suspected drug boats in Latin American waters have raised serious questions about the legality and necessity of the campaign, which has resulted in over 145 deaths so far. The attacks appear to be part of a broader effort to pressure the former Venezuelan president, but their long-term impact on drug trafficking and U.S. security remains unclear.