In a significant escalation of its anti-drug operations, the United States military has confirmed conducting lethal strikes on three vessels in the eastern Pacific Ocean, resulting in the deaths of eight individuals alleged to be narco-traffickers. The incident occurred on Monday, December 15, 2025.
Details of the Pacific Operation
The US Southern Command, in a post on the social media platform X, stated that "lethal kinetic strikes" were carried out against three boats operated by what it termed "designated terrorist organizations." The action was taken in international waters under the direction of Pentagon chief and US Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth.
According to the military's statement, intelligence confirmed the vessels were moving along known drug-smuggling routes in the Eastern Pacific. The strikes were executed by the Joint Task Force Southern Spear. The breakdown of casualties provided was three individuals killed on the first vessel, two on the second, and three on the third, totalling eight fatalities.
Video Footage and Operation Southern Spear's Toll
The command released a video showing the three separate boats on the water moments before they were hit by the strikes. This visual evidence forms part of the public record for the ongoing campaign, known as Operation Southern Spear.
This operation, spearheaded under Secretary Hegseth since early September, has seen a dramatic increase in military action against suspected drug-smuggling boats in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific Ocean. To date, the campaign has destroyed at least 26 vessels and claimed at least 95 lives, including the eight killed in this latest engagement.
Regional Buildup and Controversial Tactics
The strikes coincide with a substantial US military deployment in the Caribbean region. This buildup reportedly includes the world's largest aircraft carrier and numerous other warships. While US President Donald Trump has stated the goal is to combat narco-trafficking, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has expressed suspicion that it could be a pretext for regime change in Caracas.
The operation has not been without controversy. Earlier actions under Operation Southern Spear included an incident where survivors of an initial strike on a boat were killed in a subsequent second strike. This tactic has drawn accusations of potential war crimes. Secretary Hegseth has denied personally ordering a follow-up strike in that case, attributing the decision to US Admiral Frank Bradley.
The latest deadly engagement underscores the aggressive and lethal approach the US military is currently employing in its maritime fight against drug trafficking networks in the Western Hemisphere.
