The US military said on Wednesday that five boats suspected of transporting drugs were destroyed in international waters in the eastern Pacific Ocean over two days, killing eight men aboard, while others jumped overboard, according to the US Southern Command.

Under the direction of Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, Joint Task Force Southern Spear conducted "kinetic strikes" against three vessels operated by "Designated Terrorist Organizations" on Monday, and two vessels on Wednesday, the command said on its website.

Three people in the first vessel were killed in the first strike on Monday, the command said.

"The remaining narco-terrorists abandoned the other two vessels, jumping overboard and distancing themselves before follow-on engagements sank their respective vessels," the command added. 

In another press release, the command said five people were killed during further strikes on Wednesday, with three in the first vessel and two in the second.