The United States military struck a boat suspected of drug trafficking in the Eastern Pacific Ocean on Sunday, killing three people aboard the vessel, according to Pentagon officials.

The strike represents the latest in a series of similar operations targeting alleged narco-trafficking boats in the region. Military video footage showed the boat moving swiftly through the water before an explosion left it engulfed in flames.

According to a tally compiled by Agence France-Presse, this latest strike brings the total death toll from the US campaign against suspected drug boats to at least 185 people. The military operations have been ongoing since September, with the Trump administration conducting dozens of boat strikes against individuals accused of drug smuggling.

The Pentagon characterized the targeted vessel as being "engaged in narco-trafficking operations" in the Eastern Pacific. However, the military has not provided detailed evidence supporting the drug trafficking allegations for this specific incident.

The strikes are part of a broader US military campaign aimed at disrupting drug trafficking networks operating in international waters off the Pacific coast. The operations have intensified in recent months as part of counter-narcotics efforts in the region.