The U.S. military announced on Monday that it had executed another strike against a vessel purportedly involved in drug smuggling in the eastern Pacific Ocean, resulting in the deaths of two individuals. This operation, reported by U.S. Southern Command via social media, marks the 30th known strike against such vessels, with a total of at least 107 fatalities since early September, according to figures released by the Trump administration. The military characterized the targeted vessel as being engaged in narco-trafficking activities, although no supporting evidence was provided for this assertion. A video shared on social media depicted the boat moving through the water before being struck by two explosions.

President Donald Trump has defended these military actions as a necessary escalation to combat the influx of drugs into the United States, claiming that the U.S. is in an "armed conflict" with drug cartels. In conjunction with these strikes, the Trump administration has increased military presence in the region as part of a pressure campaign against Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, who faces narcoterrorism charges in the U.S.

During a press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Trump mentioned a recent explosion at a dock facility in Venezuela, where boats allegedly loaded with drugs are said to operate. He provided no further details regarding the incident. In December, the administration also initiated a strategy involving the seizure of two sanctioned oil tankers off the Venezuelan coast, which has led to some vessels altering their routes away from the country.

Maduro has claimed that the U.S. military operations are aimed at destabilizing his government. The Trump administration has faced scrutiny from lawmakers regarding the boat strike campaign, particularly following reports that the initial strike in September included a follow-up attack that killed two survivors clinging to the wreckage of the targeted boat.