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US Military Announces New Strike on Alleged Narco-Trafficking Boat

December 18, 2025
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The U.S. Southern Command announced a new lethal military strike on Wednesday targeting an alleged narco-trafficking vessel in the Eastern Pacific.

In a post to X, the Pentagon said, “On Dec. 17, at the direction of @SecWar Pete Hegseth, Joint Task Force Southern Spear conducted a lethal kinetic strike on a vessel operated by a Designated Terrorist Organizations [sic] in international waters. Intelligence confirmed that the vessel was transiting along a known narco-trafficking route in the Eastern Pacific and was engaged in narco-trafficking operations. A total of four male narco-terrorists were killed, and no U.S. military forces were harmed. #OpSouthernSpear”

Why It Matters

The United States has intensified its military campaign against alleged drug-smuggling vessels operating in international waters, leading to increased tensions with Venezuela and mounting scrutiny in Congress.

Critics, including lawmakers and legal experts, have raised questions about the scope, legality and oversight of these operations, as well as concerns about possible violations of international law and rules of engagement. The campaign is viewed as a marked expansion of Washington’s militarized approach to transnational drug cartels, potentially altering U.S. policy in the region and its relationship with foreign governments.

This is a developing story that will be updated with additional information.



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