The U.S. military killed two people aboard a suspected drug-trafficking vessel in the eastern Pacific Ocean during a strike carried out on Sunday.

U.S. Southern Command announced the action Monday on social media, stating that intelligence confirmed the low-profile boat's involvement in narco-trafficking operations along established routes. The strike was executed under the direction of SOUTHCOM Commander Gen. Francis L. Donovan by the Joint Task Force Western Hemisphere.

A grainy video released with the announcement showed the vessel moving across the water before a large explosion. No U.S. forces were harmed in the operation.

The strike forms part of Operation Southern Spear, launched in early September to disrupt Latin American drug cartels. President Donald Trump has described the effort as a necessary response to threats against American communities from cartel activities. Since the operation began, more than 200 individuals have been killed in similar strikes across the eastern Pacific and Caribbean, according to tallies by news organizations.

Gen. Donovan stated that the mission demonstrates commitment to imposing friction on narco-terrorists, disrupting their operations, and preventing deadly substances from reaching the United States. Officials emphasized the use of precise, lethal force against vessels engaged in trafficking.

The action aligns with broader U.S. efforts to combat drug cartels operating in the Western Hemisphere. SOUTHCOM noted the vessel was transiting routes commonly used by traffickers.