U.S. Military Conducts Strikes on Narco-Terrorist Vessels in Eastern Pacific
On December 18, 2025, the Joint Task Force Southern Spear carried out lethal kinetic strikes on two vessels operated by designated terrorist organizations in international waters of the Eastern Pacific. The operation was directed by Secretary of War Pete Hegseth.
Five male narco-terrorists were killed—three aboard the first vessel and two on the second—with no U.S. military casualties reported. A video released by U.S. Southern Command on social media platform X shows the opening strike and the aftermath, with one targeted boat engulfed in flames. The Pentagon has not publicly released the identities of the individuals killed or the specific terrorist organization involved.
This operation forms part of a broader campaign targeting narco-terrorist networks in the Eastern Pacific and Caribbean, focusing on groups such as Tren de Aragua and Colombia’s ELN. The campaign began on September 2 with a strike that killed 11 alleged Tren de Aragua members, followed by additional operations against various vessel types, including submersibles, fishing boats, and high-speed vessels along major drug-trafficking routes.
Earlier this month, the Trump administration introduced its 'Fentanyl Free America' plan. The DEA reports that these military strikes on suspected Caribbean drug vessels are contributing to efforts to curb the flow of illegal drugs into the United States.
