US Coast Guard searches for survivors after strike on suspected drug vessels

(Reuters)

WASHINGTON, Dec 31 – The United States Coast Guard is searching for survivors of a U.S. military strike against a convoy of suspected drug vessels in the Pacific Ocean, U.S. officials said on Wednesday.

President Donald Trump’s administration has carried out more than 30 strikes against suspected drug boats in the Caribbean and Pacific since September in a campaign that has killed at least 110 people.

In a statement, the U.S. military’s Southern Command said the military had carried out a strike against three vessels.

“Three narco-terrorists aboard the first vessel were killed in the first engagement. The remaining narco-terrorists abandoned the other two vessels, jumping overboard and distancing themselves before follow-on engagements sank their respective vessels,” Southern Command wrote on X.

Southern Command said later on Wednesday that it had carried out a strike on two vessels. It did not indicate where the strikes were carried out but said five people were killed as result.

U.S. SEARCHING FOR 8 SURVIVORS: OFFICIAL

A U.S. official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said eight people had abandoned their vessels and were being searched for.