U.S. carries out strike on vessel in SOUTHCOM, killing three

President Donald Trump announced on Friday that the U.S. carried out a strike on a vessel in the U.S. Southern Command’s (SOUTHCOM) area of responsibility, resulting in the deaths of three men on board.

The president said the vessel was linked to a designated terrorist organisation and involved in trafficking illicit narcotics.

Trump posted on Truth Social: “The Secretary of War ordered a lethal kinetic strike on a vessel affiliated with a Designated Terrorist Organization conducting narcotrafficking in the USSOUTHCOM area of responsibility. Intelligence confirmed the vessel was trafficking illicit narcotics, and was transiting along a known narcotrafficking passage enroute to poison Americans. The strike killed 3 male narcoterrorists aboard the vessel, which was in international waters. No U.S. Forces were harmed in this strike. STOP SELLING FENTANYL, NARCOTICS, AND ILLEGAL DRUGS IN AMERICA, AND COMMITTING VIOLENCE AND TERRORISM AGAINST AMERICANS!!!”

The strike, described as a “lethal kinetic” action ordered by the Pentagon, targeted the vessel along a known smuggling route. Officials said no U.S. personnel were harmed.

SOUTHCOM oversees U.S. military operations across 31 countries in South and Central America and the Caribbean. Officials said the strike reflects ongoing efforts to target narcotics trafficking networks operating in the region.

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