U.S. Military Conducts Lethal Strikes on Three Narco-Trafficking Vessels, Killing Eight in Eastern Pacific

Miami, FL – December 16, 2025

southcom.mil

New Joint Task Force Established to Lead SOUTHCOM Counter …

U.S. forces executed precision “lethal kinetic strikes” on three vessels suspected of narco-trafficking in international waters of the Eastern Pacific on December 15, resulting in the deaths of eight individuals identified as “narco-terrorists,” according to U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM).

The operation, directed by Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, was carried out by Joint Task Force Southern Spear. SOUTHCOM stated: “Intelligence confirmed that the vessels were transiting along known narco-trafficking routes in the Eastern Pacific and were engaged in narco-trafficking.” The strikes targeted vessels allegedly operated by Designated Terrorist Organizations (DTOs).

nbcnews.com

Testimony raises questions about Pete Hegseth’s handling of …

Video footage released by SOUTHCOM shows dramatic explosions engulfing the boats, with flames and smoke rising over the ocean. Breakdown: three killed on the first vessel, two on the second, and three on the third – all described as male narco-terrorists.

This action marks the latest in Operation Southern Spear, a Trump administration campaign framing drug cartels as terrorist entities to justify lethal force. Since September 2025, at least 25 strikes have killed over 95 individuals across the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific, targeting groups like Venezuela’s Tren de Aragua and Colombia’s ELN.

france24.com

US military kills eight in strikes on alleged narco …

Hegseth has defended the approach vigorously: “These highly effective strikes are specifically intended to be ‘lethal, kinetic strikes.’ The declared intent is to stop lethal drugs, destroy narco-boats, and kill the narco-terrorists who are poisoning the American people.” He asserts every target is linked to a DTO.

The campaign stems from President Trump’s designation of certain cartels as foreign terrorist organizations, enabling military engagement without traditional law enforcement constraints. Supporters argue it disrupts fentanyl flows devastating U.S. communities.

abcnews.go.com

US military conducts 3 more alleged drug boat strikes in the …

Critics, including legal experts and some Democrats, question legality, citing potential war crimes in cases of follow-up strikes on survivors. Reports suggest some killed were low-level smugglers or fishermen, not high-level terrorists. International oversight remains limited in international waters.

No U.S. casualties were reported. The strikes underscore escalating U.S. efforts against transnational crime, blending counter-terrorism tactics with the war on drugs.

As operations continue, debates rage over effectiveness, ethics, and long-term impact on hemispheric relations.