WASHINGTON

The US conducted kinetic strikes against three alleged narco-trafficking vessels in international waters, the US Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) said Wednesday.

The operation was conducted Tuesday by Joint Task Force Southern Spear at the direction of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, according to SOUTHCOM.

"Intelligence confirmed the vessels were transiting along known narco-trafficking routes and had transferred narcotics between the three vessels prior to the strikes," it said on the US social media company X’s platform.

During the initial engagement, three people aboard the first vessel were killed, it said, adding following the strike, individuals on the remaining two vessels abandoned ship, jumping overboard before subsequent engagements sank those vessels.

Following the engagements, SOUTHCOM said it immediately notified the US Coast Guard to activate the search and rescue system.