The United States military has announced the elimination of three individuals it identified as narco-terrorists in a recent operation targeting a suspected drug vessel in the Pacific Ocean.

The U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) revealed that the strike on the vessel, reportedly operated by designated terrorist organizations, took place last Friday under the directive of Commander General Francis L. Donovan. This operation marks the fourth strike reported by SOUTHCOM within the past week.

SOUTHCOM conveyed via social media platform X that intelligence had verified the vessel’s course along established narco-trafficking routes in the Eastern Pacific, confirming its involvement in drug trafficking activities. During the operation, three male narco-terrorists were killed, while all U.S. military personnel involved remained unharmed.

This latest action contributes to a series of at least 42 operations conducted by the U.S. against alleged drug-smuggling vessels, resulting in the deaths of 147 individuals across the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific regions.

The Joint Task Force Southern Spear executed this decisive strike on February 20, aiming to dismantle the operations of vessels connected to designated terrorist organizations in the Eastern Pacific, thereby impeding narco-trafficking endeavors without any casualties among U.S. forces, as noted by SOUTHCOM on X.

SOUTHCOM oversees military operations across Central and South America, as well as the Caribbean. Its efforts include counter-narcotics missions designed to disrupt drug trafficking networks that pose a threat to United States interests.

Earlier this week, SOUTHCOM said it carried out three strikes in the Eastern Pacific and Caribbean, killing 11. 

The Pentagon says it carried out three strikes against suspected narco-terrorist vessels on Monday. (Pentagon)

“Eleven male narco-terrorists were killed during these actions, 4 on the first vessel in the Eastern Pacific, 4 on the second vessel in the Eastern Pacific, and 3 on the third vessel in the Caribbean,” it said.

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth recently said some cartel drug traffickers operating in the U.S. Southern Command area of responsibility have halted narcotics activity following recent U.S. military strikes in the Caribbean. (Alex Wong/Getty Images)

No American forces were harmed in those operations either, according to the command.