WASHINGTON (TNND) — The U.S. conducted a "lethal kinetic strike" on an alleged drug boat on Friday as part of the Operation Souther Spear campaign.

The strike killed two passengers and left one survivor, according to U.S. Southern Command. The U.S. Coast Guard was activated to trigger a search and rescue for the survivor.

They claimed the boat was involved in "narco-trafficking routes" along the Eastern Pacific.

This is the first known strike since the U.S. ousted the Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and brought him to New York to face drug trafficking charges. President Donald Trump called his capture, which was done in a suprise nightime raid one of the "most successful attacks.

As of 2025, the most recent number released by the administration brings the total number of known boat strikes to 33 and the number of people killed to at least 110 since early September.

Even after the capture of Maduro, the Trump administration has put pressure on Venezuela through boat strikes and oil tank seizures.

Congressional leaders have tried to rein in the Trump administration's authority over Venezuela.

However, a war powers resolution, which would have limited the Trump administration's ability to conduct strikes, was blocked by Senate Republicans after Vice President JD Vance broke a tied vote in the Senate.