Conflict & Security
US says Caribbean drug-boat strike killed three
US Southern Command said American forces carried out a lethal strike on a go-fast vessel in the Caribbean on Wednesday, saying the operation killed three “narco-terrorists” on established drug-trafficking routes.
SOUTHCOM posted black-and-white footage on X showing a vessel exploding in the water and catching fire. The claim could not be independently confirmed from the supplied material.
The statement came after US Secretary of State Marco Rubio defended the Trump administration's campaign against suspected drug-trafficking boats during a visit to Ecuador and said the operations would continue.
Speaking after talks with Ecuadoran President Daniel Noboa in Quito, Rubio said criminal groups would overwhelm countries in the region if they were not confronted. “If you don't confront these groups, they will eat these countries alive,” he said.
Since Donald Trump returned to power, the United States has used air strikes against vessels on known trafficking routes in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific. Pentagon figures say the operations have killed more than 200 people.
Rights groups, fishermen and relatives have questioned the campaign, alleging vessels were targeted without enough evidence linking them to trafficking. Experts have also questioned whether the strikes reduce the flow of cocaine and other drugs to the United States.
Rubio said decisions on vessels were made case by case, depending on the threat posed by a vessel, its location and local laws. Asked whether vessels would keep being destroyed, he said: “Well again, it depends, and we still blow up ships.”
In recent weeks, joint US-Ecuador patrols have removed crews from at least six boats before sinking the vessels.
While in Quito, Rubio announced the designation of the Ecuadoran gang Los Tiguerones as a terrorist organization and sanctions against seven former Ecuadoran officials. A previous account of the same visit said the United States would send Ecuador a coastguard cutter and five additional interceptor vessels.
More than 25,000 people have been murdered in Ecuador in the past three years as drug gangs have fought for control of trafficking routes.
Rubio later landed in Lima, where he is expected to meet Peruvian leaders on the last stop of a tour aimed at strengthening US ties with right-wing allies in the region. During the trip, he also said Mexico was stepping up its cartel fight but was doing “not nearly enough.”
Update
US Southern Command said American forces carried out a lethal strike on a go-fast vessel on Caribbean trafficking routes later Wednesday.
SOUTHCOM said the strike killed three "narco-terrorists" and posted footage of a vessel exploding and burning.
Rubio later landed in Lima for the final stop of his regional tour.
Rubio said Mexico was increasing its cartel fight but was doing "not nearly enough".
Source note: AFP news report published on 10 September 2026 at 01:37:13 UTC.
Update
Marco Rubio defended US strikes on suspected drug-trafficking boats during his visit to Ecuador.
Rubio said the operations would continue and that decisions were made case by case, depending on the threat posed by a vessel, its location and local laws.
Rubio said joint operations in territorial waters required agreement on how they would be carried out.
Rubio said the United States still destroys ships when conditions warrant it.
Source note: AFP news report published on 10 September 2026 at 00:21:23 UTC.
Update
Marco Rubio visited Quito on the second stop of a Colombia-Ecuador-Peru tour.
Rubio said seven unnamed former Ecuadoran government members would be sanctioned for alleged bribery and involvement with proscribed groups.
Rubio said the United States would send Ecuador a coastguard cutter and five additional interceptor vessels.
The item adds US Defense Department figures saying US strikes on suspected drug vessels have killed more than 200 people.
The item says recent joint US-Ecuador patrols have sunk at least six fishing boats accused of involvement in the drug trade, while many were carrying only fuel and some crew members have been released without charge.
Source note: AFP news report published on 9 September 2026 at 19:52:23 UTC.
Update
The designation freezes any US assets the group might hold and bars Americans from doing business with it.
The item adds background on the gang's alleged links to cocaine trafficking, extortion, contract killings, arms trafficking and money laundering.
The item says Los Tiguerones made international headlines when masked gang members stormed a TV studio during a live broadcast in early 2024.
Source note: AFP news report published on 9 September 2026 at 19:05:37 UTC.
Update
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio designated Ecuador's Los Tiguerones gang a terrorist organization during his visit to Quito.
Rubio said Los Tiguerones was linked to narcotrafficking and attacks targeting civilians, law enforcement officers and journalists.
Source note: AFP news report published on 9 September 2026 at 18:53:17 UTC.
Uncertainty notes
The supplied material does not independently verify SOUTHCOM's description of the people killed or the vessel's activity.
Rights groups, fishermen and relatives dispute whether some targeted vessels were sufficiently linked to drug trafficking.
Source
AFP news report published on .