On February 18, 2026, the U.S. military confirmed that its recent airstrikes on three vessels in the Eastern Pacific and Caribbean resulted in the deaths of 11 individuals, further escalating the Trump administration's campaign against alleged drug traffickers. This operation has brought the total death toll to at least 145 since the campaign began in September 2025, marking one of the deadliest days in this ongoing military effort. Reports indicate that the strikes targeted vessels accused of smuggling drugs in Latin American waters, with two of the vessels reportedly stationary at the time of the attacks, raising significant questions about the justification for these strikes, as highlighted by sources such as the South China Morning Post and NBC News.