The Pentagon watchdog is evaluating US military operations involving strikes on alleged drug boats, with reports indicating a probe into these actions. The investigation aims to assess the conduct and effectiveness of these operations.
The US military has conducted multiple strikes against alleged drug smuggling boats in the Pacific and Caribbean, resulting in the deaths of several individuals. These operations are part of ongoing efforts to combat drug trafficking in the region.
The United States is reportedly examining 'kill' tactics, previously tested in strikes against drug boats in Venezuela, for potential use against Iranian fast boats.
The American military sank two vessels suspected of drug trafficking in the Eastern Pacific, resulting in at least five fatalities during the anti-narcotics operation.
The American military has once again bombed a boat in the Pacific Ocean suspected of transporting drugs. According to US media, two of the three occupants were killed, and the sole survivor was left to their fate.
A US delegation is set to travel to Pakistan for a new round of negotiations with Iran, as Tehran maintains that a final deal is still distant and continues to assert its leverage over the Strait of Hormuz. Iran also claims to be replenishing missile launchers faster than before.
Canada has restricted intelligence sharing with a U.S.-led anti-drug-smuggling mission in the Caribbean, where American airstrikes on suspected drug boats have reportedly killed over 150 people.
Reforma reported that the two boats belonged to Roberto Castellanos Meza, alias “Beto Bonques,” and Audias Flores Silva, “El Jardinero,” both known members of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG).
Three boats targeted in eastern Pacific and Caribbean as Trump continues pursuit of alleged ‘narco-terrorists’
US military officials has said American forces launched assaults on three alleged drug-smuggling boats, killing 11 in one of the deadliest days of the Trump administration’s months-long campaign against alleged traffickers.
The military action on Monday brought the number of fatalities caused by US strikes to 145 since September, when Donald Trump called on American armed forces to people deemed “narco-terrorists” on small vessels. There have been 42 known strikes in notorious drug trafficking routes such as the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific Ocean, according to the Associated Press reported.
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Tensions between the US and Iran escalated in the Strait of Hormuz following reports of an attack on Iranian tankers, with Iran's president speaking out against exploitation. Iranian authorities later announced that the clashes in the strategic waterway had concluded.
Iran has again closed the Strait of Hormuz, with its Revolutionary Guard threatening to fire on any approaching ships, leading to a significant drop in traffic due to security fears. The US has warned against "blackmail" and reportedly plans to seize Iran-linked vessels.
The US military reported that it blew up two boats accused of smuggling drugs in the eastern Pacific Ocean, killing a total of five people and leaving one injured.
US Military Blows Up 3 Alleged Drug Boats, Killing 11, After Lull Since January
The Pentagon's whole anti-narco boat operations fell relatively silent for the past more than a month in the wake of the January 3rd US military raid on Venezuela to overthrow the Maduro government. Surely there was still drug trafficking off Latin America, but with 'mission accomplished' in Caracas the public PR 'anti-drug' pretext was no longer needed, apparently.
But suddenly, this week, the US military has begun its strikes on alleged drug boats again, with US Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) on Tuesday having announced its forces launched drone assaults on three alleged drug smuggling boats in the eastern Pacific and the Caribbean on Monday.
In total eleven people were killed in the renewed operation. "Intelligence confirmed the vessels were transiting along known narco-trafficking routes and were engaged in narco-trafficking operations," SOUTHCOM said Tuesday in a post to X.
Illustrative narco-boats file, via X.
The military statements said the three boats were allegedly "operated by Designated Terrorist Organizations." The post further referred to those killed as "male narco-terrorists," detailing that eight were killed on two boats in the eastern Pacific - or the Western side of Latin America - and three were killed on a boat in the Caribbean.
No American forces were harmed, the post said, in the assault conducted at the direction of Marine Corps Gen. Francis Donovan, who serves as the commander of Southern Command.
War (Defense) Secretary Pete Hegseth celebrated the fresh strikes in a post on X, writing, "Turns out President’s Day — under President Trump — is not a good day to run drugs."
For all the momentary celebrations at the Pentagon, the supposed 'war on drugs' will be circular and never-ending, as it's been over the past many decades, spanning presidencies.
But this is really about American influence and 'ownership' of the region and total dominance of the Western hemisphere.
From Vietnam to Iraq to Libya to Syria to Iran, Washington is always looking for some kind of casus belli - even if it has to be manufactured - to sell war to the American people.
Turns out President’s Day — under President Trump — is not a good day to run drugs. https://t.co/8c5wMmQbQ2
February 17, 2026
Going back several years, the single biggest sources of the world's fentanyl trade have been consistently identified as China and Mexico.
At this point it's impossible to know, and hasn't been disclosed, whether any of the well over 25 boats blown up by US military action off Latin America since September were actually loaded with fentanyl, or in what quantities.
Tyler Durden
Tue, 02/17/2026 - 19:40
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