Archive · 1 Jan 2026
US military strikes drug boats, kills 13
The US military attacked some boats they think were carrying drugs.
They killed 13 people on the boats.
Some people jumped into the water and are missing, so the Coast Guard is looking for them.
This is part of a bigger plan to stop drugs from coming into the US.
The military has done more than 30 of these attacks since September, killing at least 115 people.
The US is also putting pressure on the Venezuelan government, and there was a drone strike on a dock in Venezuela last week.
The US military conducted strikes on five suspected drug vessels over two days, killing 13 people.
Eight people abandoned their vessels and are being searched for by the Coast Guard.
The strikes were part of a campaign that has carried out more than 30 strikes since September, killing at least 115 people.
The exact location of the strikes is unclear, but previous strikes have occurred in the Caribbean or the eastern Pacific.
The US is also escalating pressure on Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, with a recent drone strike on a dock facility in Venezuela.
- Who
- US military, US Coast Guard, suspected drug vessel occupants
- What
- Military strikes on suspected drug vessels, search for survivors
- When
- December 31 and January 1, 2026
- Where
- Pacific Ocean or Caribbean
- Why
- To counter suspected drug trafficking and narco-terrorism
- Strike Location
- Pacific Ocean or Caribbean
- Number of Vessels Struck
- 5
- Number of People Killed
- 13
- Number of People Searching for
- 8
- Agency Involved
- US Southern Command, US Coast Guard
- Date of Incident
- December 31 and January 1, 2026
- Total Strikes Since September
- 35
- Total People Killed Since September
- 115
Sources
US Coast Guard searches for survivors after strike on suspected drug vessels
US military strikes five suspected drug boats, 8 killed in Trump's anti-trafficking campaign
US Military Strikes 5 More Alleged Drug Boats, Killing 8
US military strikes 2 'drug boats', kill 5 'narco-terrorists': Southcom
