U.S. Military Strikes on Suspected Drug Boats: Death Toll Reaches 117

U.S. Coast Guard launches search for survivor of boat strike. As of this date, at least 117 people have been killed in at least 36 strikes on 37 vessels. The U.S. had also made its first strike on a land target within Venezuela.

U.S. Coast Guard launches search for unspecified number of survivors who abandoned ship before vessels were struck in international waters. The Coast Guard suspends search on January 2, 2026.

U.S. Southern Command posts video of latest strike on alleged drug smuggling vessel in the eastern Pacific on Saturday, killing three people. The strike is the 21st against these kinds of vessels in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific, with cumulative deaths at 83.

U.S. military carries out a strike on an alleged drug cartel boat in the Caribbean earlier in the week, killing all four people aboard.

Hegseth announces the 18th and 19th strikes were carried out in the eastern Pacific, killing three people in each craft. Hegseth states the operation is protecting the homeland and killing cartel terrorists.

Largest strike in the campaign results in 14 deaths in the eastern Pacific. Hegseth states the U.S. targeted four alleged drug boats in three coordinated attacks. One survivor is reported, and the Mexican Navy and U.S. Coast Guard search unsuccessfully for the survivor.

Ninth strike on a boat in the Pacific. Hegseth states the vessel was transporting narcotics and three men were killed.

Eighth strike targets first boat in the Pacific Ocean west of Central America, killing two people.

Hegseth announces the seventh strike in the Caribbean, alleging three men with ties to Colombian terror groups were killed in international waters.

Sixth strike kills six men near the coast of Venezuela. Trump states Hegseth ordered the strike that morning. Two of the killed may have been citizens of Trinidad and Tobago.

Fourth strike on a vessel near the coast of Venezuela kills four people. Defense Secretary Hegseth states the vessel was transporting substantial amounts of narcotics headed toward the United States on a known trafficking route.

Third strike in the campaign kills three people. Trump alleges the vessel was operating for an unspecified designated terrorist organization.

U.S. naval vessel strikes and sinks a speedboat alleged to be smuggling drugs from Venezuela to the southern Caribbean. The Trump administration claims 11 members of Tren de Aragua were killed and a significant quantity of narcotics was destroyed.