The United States Coast Guard is conducting an extensive search and rescue operation in the eastern Pacific Ocean, looking for individuals who abandoned alleged drug-smuggling vessels just before U.S. military forces attacked them. The operation, now in its fourth day, faces diminishing hopes of finding survivors due to the time elapsed and severe weather conditions.
Details of the Search and Rescue Mission
The Coast Guard initiated its search on Tuesday afternoon, December 31, 2025, after receiving notification from the U.S. military. The alert indicated that survivors were in the water approximately 400 miles (650 kilometers) southwest of the maritime border between Mexico and Guatemala.
In response, the agency dispatched a long-range aircraft from Sacramento, California, to scour a vast area covering more than 1,000 miles (1,600 kilometers). An urgent marine information broadcast was issued to alert all nearby vessels. The Coast Guard coordinated over 65 hours of search efforts, working with international partners and civilian ships in the region.
The search has been hampered by difficult ocean conditions, including 9-foot (2.7-meter) seas and winds of 40 knots. The U.S. military has not disclosed how many people jumped from the targeted boats, leaving the potential death toll unknown.
Background on the Military Strikes
This incident is part of a months-long campaign authorized by President Donald Trump, targeting small boats suspected of transporting drugs. According to U.S. Southern Command, which oversees military operations in the region, forces attacked three boats traveling along known narco-trafficking routes earlier this week.
The military stated the vessels "had transferred narcotics between the three vessels prior to the strikes," though it did not publicly provide evidence to support this claim. When the first boat was struck, three people were killed. Individuals on the other two boats reportedly jumped overboard and moved away from the vessels before they were attacked.
The strikes occurred in a part of the ocean where the U.S. Navy has no ships currently operating. Southern Command says it immediately notified the Coast Guard to begin search and rescue operations for those in the water.
Legal Scrutiny and Previous Incidents
The decision to call in the Coast Guard is notable, as the military's tactics have recently faced intense legal and political scrutiny. In early September 2025, U.S. forces conducted a follow-up strike on a disabled boat, killing survivors of an initial attack. This action sparked controversy, with some Democratic lawmakers and legal experts calling it a potential war crime, while the Trump administration and some Republicans defended its legality.
Since the campaign began in early September, the U.S. military has conducted at least 35 boat strikes in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific, resulting in a confirmed death toll of at least 115 people, according to administration figures released Friday.
There have been other survivors from previous strikes. In late October, the Mexican Navy suspended a search for one survivor after four days. Two survivors from a strike on a submersible vessel in the Caribbean were repatriated to Ecuador and Colombia. Ecuadorian authorities later released the man, citing a lack of evidence that he had committed a crime within their jurisdiction.
President Trump has defended the aggressive policy as a necessary escalation to combat the flow of drugs into the United States, asserting the nation is in an "armed conflict" with drug cartels. The campaign is part of a broader pressure strategy that also involves a military buildup aimed at Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, who faces U.S. narco-terrorism charges.
