The United States Southern Command late Sunday conducted its first deadly missile strike on an alleged drug boat in months, which it claimed killed two "narco-terrorists." 

The command said Monday that the lethal attack was against a low-profile vessel operating along established narco-trafficking routes in the Eastern Pacific, and that intelligence confirmed that the boat was engaged in narco-trafficking.

The strike was part of SOUTHCOM's Joint Task Force Western Hemisphere.

"When I ordered the establishment of Joint Task Force Western Hemisphere, it was precisely for this purpose: to accelerate, synchronize, and execute lethal actions against these destabilizing narco-terrorist networks," SOUTHCOM Commander Gen. Francis L. Donovan said in a statement. "We are committed to imposing total systemic friction on narco-terrorists -- disrupting their operations, dismantling their leadership, and eliminating cartel terror across the region.

“Let me be clear, we will not permit narco-terrorists to operate with impunity in the Western Hemisphere, nor will we allow their deadly poison to reach American communities," he continued. "This operation is a powerful demonstration of our lethal precision, overwhelming capability, and absolute resolve to protect the U.S. homeland."

The operation comes after the United States conducted Joint Task Force Southern Spear, which killed about 200 people on 60 boats in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific since September. 

Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.