The U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) announced on Wednesday that four men died following a recent strike on a vessel believed to be operated by drug traffickers in the eastern Pacific's international waters.
According to an official statement, the strike was carried out by the Joint Task Force Southern Spear under the directives of Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth. The operation, described as a "lethal kinetic attack," is part of the broader Southern Spear campaign.
SOUTHCOM confirmed through intelligence that the vessel was navigating a notorious drug trafficking route.
"Four male narcoterrorists were killed, and no U.S. military personnel were injured," the statement noted.
The vessel was reportedly part of a network involved in trafficking drugs and arms across the eastern Pacific corridor, an area monitored by U.S. forces from Central America to South America's coast.
The nationalities of the deceased and the type of vessel destroyed remain undisclosed. However, these actions have faced criticism from several nations demanding explanations for such U.S. operations.
This strike is part of Operation Southern Spear, a military initiative launched by the Trump administration in September 2025, aimed at combating what Washington terms "transnational narcoterrorist organizations."
Under Secretary Hegseth's leadership, the operation has deployed naval, air, and autonomous drone forces in the Caribbean and Pacific to intercept vessels linked to drug trafficking and regimes targeted by the U.S., such as Nicolás Maduro's in Venezuela.
In recent months, SOUTHCOM has verified multiple similar operations. On December 15, coordinated attacks destroyed three vessels, resulting in the deaths of eight alleged narcoterrorists.
Earlier this month, another operation neutralized four men on a speedboat suspected of carrying illegal cargo in the same Pacific area.
The Pentagon asserts that Operation Southern Spear aims to disrupt maritime routes exploited by cartels and groups allied with regional authoritarian regimes.
The operation has sparked reactions from various countries, with some expressing concerns over the "militarization of international waters." Others view it as a tactic to pressure Nicolás Maduro's regime in Venezuela.
Nevertheless, Washington defends the legality of these attacks within the context of the global fight against terrorism and drug trafficking.
Implications and Reactions to U.S. Military Operations in the Pacific
What is Operation Southern Spear?
Operation Southern Spear is a military campaign initiated by the Trump administration in 2025, aimed at combating transnational narcoterrorist organizations. It involves deploying naval, air, and drone forces to intercept vessels linked to drug trafficking.
Why are other countries concerned about these U.S. operations?
Several countries have expressed concerns over the militarization of international waters and the lack of transparency regarding these operations. They demand explanations from the U.S. for conducting such military actions.
How does Washington justify these military strikes?
Washington defends the legality of these operations, citing the global fight against terrorism and drug trafficking as justification for the military strikes.