On Dec. 4, at the direction of @SecWar Pete Hegseth, Joint Task Force Southern Spear conducted a lethal kinetic strike on a vessel in international waters operated by a Designated Terrorist Organization. Intelligence confirmed that the vessel was carrying illicit narcotics and transiting along a known narco-trafficking route in the Eastern Pacific. Four male narco-terrorists aboard the vessel were killed. #OpSouthernSpear

The Pentagon announced on Thursday that the US military had conducted another deadly strike on a boat suspected of carrying illegal narcotics, killing four men in the eastern Pacific, as questions mount over the legality of the attacks.Video of the new strike was posted on social media by the US southern command, based in Florida, with a statement saying that, at the direction of Pete Hegseth, the defense secretary, “Joint Task Force Southern Spear conducted a lethal kinetic strike on a vessel in international waters operated by a Designated Terrorist Organization”.“Intelligence confirmed that the vessel was carrying illicit narcotics and transiting along a known narco-trafficking route in the Eastern Pacific. Four male narco-terrorists aboard the vessel were killed,” the statement added.The footage showed a large explosion suddenly overtaking a small boat as it moved through the water, followed by an image of a vessel in flames and dark smoke streaming overhead.It is the 22nd strike the US military has carried out against boats in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific Ocean, bringing the death toll of the campaign to at least 87 people since September, when the strikes began.The first publicly announced strike in nearly three weeks, it comes as the Pentagon and the White House have struggled to answer questions about the legal basis for the campaign to kill suspected drug smugglers. US lawmakers have promised to investigate the first such attack, in September, in which two survivors clinging to wreckage were killed in a follow-on strike.Hegseth has faced increasing scrutiny over that strike following a report from the Washington Post that the defense secretary had verbally directed the military to “kill them all”. On Thursday, a Democratic lawmaker introduced articles of impeachment against Hegseth, pointing to the boat strike and a report that found he broke rules by sharing information on Slack about another military attack, but such an effort is unlikely to succeed.The US admiral who commanded the 2 September attack told lawmakers on Thursday that there was no such order to kill everyone onboard the vessel. Still, Jim Himes, a Democratic congressman from Connecticut, described the footage of the strike, which reportedly showed two survivors clinging to the wreckage, as “one of the most troubling things I’ve seen in my time in public service”.“You have two individuals in clear distress, without any means of locomotion, with a destroyed vessel,” Himes said.Tom Cotton, a Republican senator from Arkansas, disagreed, saying the footage showed “two survivors trying to flip a boat loaded with drugs, bound for the United States, back over so they could stay in the fight” and that nearby “narco-terrorists” may have been coming to rescue them.Ryan Goodman, a New York University law professor and former Pentagon lawyer, scoffed at Cotton’s interpretation. “I’d love to know how Senator Cotton … was able to detect these shipwrecked people were trying to ‘stay in the fight’ versus clinging to dear life in an effort to survive,” Goodman wrote on Bluesky.“Even if you buy all the legal falsehoods (that this is an ‘armed conflict’, that drugs are war-sustaining objects), the two shipwrecked were in no way, shape or form engaged in ‘active combat activities’ (the actual legal test),” Goodman added.The administration has argued the US is at war with drug traffickers and that such strikes are legal under the rules of war, but most legal experts reject that rationale.“Even if we buy into their framing that the individuals on these vessels are combatants, it would still be unlawful to kill them if they are hors de combat, which means they’re incapacitated,” Rebecca Ingber, a professor at Cardozo law school and a former legal adviser to the state department, told the Guardian this week.“It is manifestly unlawful to kill someone who’s been shipwrecked.”Quick GuideContact us about this storyShowThe best public interest journalism relies on first-hand accounts from people in the know.If you have something to share on this subject, you can contact us confidentially using the following methods.Secure Messaging in the Guardian appThe Guardian app has a tool to send tips about stories. Messages are end to end encrypted and concealed within the routine activity that every Guardian mobile app performs. This prevents an observer from knowing that you are communicating with us at all, let alone what is being said.If you don't already have the Guardian app, download it (iOS/Android) and go to the menu. Select ‘Secure Messaging’. SecureDrop, instant messengers, email, telephone and postIf you can safely use the Tor network without being observed or monitored, you can send messages and documents to the Guardian via our SecureDrop platform.Finally, our guide at theguardian.com/tips lists several ways to contact us securely, and discusses the pros and cons of each. Illustration: Guardian Design / Rich Cousins

WorldThe U.S. military said it had conducted another strike against a small boat in the eastern Pacific Ocean on Thursday, following a pause of almost three weeks.Announcement of latest strike comes amid new concerns about a missile strike on survivors in Sept. 2 incidentListen to this articleEstimated 3 minutesThe audio version of this article is generated by AI-based technology. Mispronunciations can occur. We are working with our partners to continually review and improve the results.U.S. navy Admiral Frank (Mitch) Bradley, centre, and Gen. Dan Caine, chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, right, are escorted to a classified briefing in Washington on Thursday, as lawmakers investigate how Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth handled a Sept. 2 military strike on an alleged drug smuggling boat. (J. Scott Applewhite/The Associated Press)The U.S. military said it had conducted another strike against a small boat in the eastern Pacific Ocean on Thursday, following a pause of almost three weeks.It is the 22nd such strike against boats in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific that the Trump administration claimed were trafficking drugs. There were four casualties, according to the social media post, bringing the death toll of the campaign to at least 87 people.In a video that accompanied the announcement, a small boat can be seen moving across the water before it is suddenly consumed by a large explosion. The video then zooms out to show the boat covered in flames and billowing smoke. The strike was conducted the same day Adm. Frank (Mitch) Bradley appeared for a series of closed-door briefings at the U.S. Capitol as lawmakers began an investigation into the very first strike, carried out by the military on Sept. 2. The sessions came after a report that Bradley ordered an immediate follow-up attack that killed the survivors to comply with Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth's demands.Bradley told lawmakers there was no "kill them all" order from Hegseth, but a stark video of the entire series of attacks left some lawmakers with serious questions.Legal experts have said killing survivors of a strike at sea could be a violation of the laws of military warfare.WATCH | White House responds to questions about boat strike:U.S. authorization of 2nd strike of Venezuelan ship questionedThe White House confirmed it authorized a second airstrike on an alleged Venezuelan drug boat in September, but denied it ordered everyone on board be killed, which would be considered a war crime.Bradley spoke to lawmakers alongside the chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Dan Caine. His testimony provided fresh information at a crucial moment as Hegseth's leadership comes under scrutiny, but it did little to resolve growing questions about the legal basis for U.S. President Donald Trump's extraordinary campaign to use war powers against alleged drug smugglers. Lawmakers offered differing accounts of what they saw on the video.Republican Sen. Tom Cotton of Arkansas said he saw the survivors "trying to flip a boat loaded with drugs bound for United States back over so they could stay in the fight."Hegseth authorized 2nd strike on alleged drug vessel, White House saysAnalysisAs Trump's lethal strikes on alleged drug boats draw scrutiny, U.S. Congress steps upConnecticut Rep. Jim Himes, the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, said, "What I saw in that room was one of the most troubling things I've seen in my time in public service.""You have two individuals in clear distress, without any means of locomotion, with a destroyed vessel," he said, adding they "were killed by the United States."Washington Rep. Adam Smith, the top Democrat on the House armed services committee, said the survivors were "basically two shirtless people clinging to the bow of a capsized and inoperable boat, drifting in the water — until the missiles come and kill them."ClarificationsA previous version of this story indicated that Admiral Frank (Mitch) Bradley faced allegations of a possible war crime. While concerns have been raised by lawmakers about the legality of a Sept. 2 strike on survivors, and in general about the American campaign against alleged drug-carrying boats, no specific person faces formal allegations of having committed a war crime.Dec 05, 2025 9:44 AM EST

Your wish is our command, Andrew. Just sunk another narco boat.

#ATTENTION | US bombs drug-laden boat in the Eastern Pacific. This marks 22 attacks, 23 vessels sunk, and 86 drug traffickers killed.

#ATENCIÓN | EE. UU. bombardea lancha con droga en el Pacífico Oriental. Van 22 ataques, 23 embarcaciones hundidas y 86 narcos abatidos.

Another drug-trafficking boat explodes in the United States. Joint Task Force Lanza del Sur carried out a deadly attack against a vessel in international waters operated by a Designated Terrorist Organization. Four drug traffickers were killed.

Otra narcolancha que explota por Estados Unidos. La Fuerza de Tarea Conjunta Lanza del Sur atacó letalmente contra un buque en aguas internacionales operado por una Organización Terrorista Designada. Cuatro narcoterroristas fueron abatidos.

ATTENTION | UNITED STATES ATTACKS ALLEGED DRUG BOATS AGAINST The United States reported a deadly attack against an alleged drug boat in the Pacific; four dead and more questions about the legality and transparency of the operations. https://tinyurl.com/3swvx9j9

OJO | ESTADOS UNIDOS VUELVE AL ATAQUE CONTRA SUPUESTAS NARCOLANCHAS Estados Unidos informó sobre un ataque letal contra una presunta narcolancha en el Pacífico; cuatro muertos y más preguntas sobre la legalidad y transparencia de las operaciones. https://tinyurl.com/3swvx9j9

A new kinetic attack on a drug-running boat in the eastern Pacific. Its course can be determined because the north reference was not pixelated. The vessel was heading 160°, which is southeast, contrary to what would be expected, a course closer to north.

Nuevo ataque cinético a una narcolancha en el Pacífico oriental. Se puede determinar rumbo ya que la referencia a norte no fue pixelada. La embarcación llevaba un rumbo de 160°, eso es SE, contrario a lo que se esperaría un rumbo cercano al Norte.

Breaking News: The United States has resumed its attacks on suspected drug-trafficking vessels, destroying another one and killing four people on board. The attack occurred in the Pacific Ocean on a known drug trafficking route, according to the Pentagon.

Última Hora: Estados Unidos reanuda sus ataques a presuntas narco embarcaciones y destruye una más con un saldo de 4 ocupantes muertos. El ataque ocurrió en el Pacífico en una "narco-ruta" conocida, según el Pentágono.

After a pause, a new kinetic attack on a drug-running boat in the eastern Pacific. Its course can be determined since the north reference was not pixelated. The vessel was heading 160°, which is southeast, contrary to what would be expected—a course closer to north.

Después de una pausa, un nuevo ataque cinético a una narcolancha en el Pacífico oriental. Se puede determinar rumbo ya que la referencia a norte no fue pixelada. La embarcación llevaba un rumbo de 160°, eso es SE, contrario a lo que se esperaría un rumbo cercano al Norte.

US destroys drug boat in the Pacific, killing four suspected drug traffickers Southern Command confirmed that US forces carried out a lethal kinetic strike against a speedboat in the Eastern Pacific, killing four men, according to the official report. The operation was conducted by Joint Task Force Lanza del Sur under the direct orders of US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, according to the statement published in X. Southern Command stated that the vessel was “carrying illicit narcotics” and was operated by a Designated Terrorist Organization, without specifying which one. #EVTVNews #USA #DrugTrafficking #Narcoterrorism #Pacific #SouthernCommand

EEUU destruye narcolancha en el Pacífico y deja cuatro “narcoterroristas” muertos El Comando Sur confirmó que fuerzas estadounidenses ejecutaron un ataque cinético letal contra una lancha rápida en el Pacífico Oriental, dejando cuatro hombres muertos, según el balance oficial. La operación fue ejecutada por la Fuerza de Tarea Conjunta Lanza del Sur bajo instrucciones directas del secretario de Guerra de EEUU, Pete Hegseth, de acuerdo con el comunicado publicado en X. El Comando Sur afirmó que la embarcación “transportaba narcóticos ilícitos” y que era operada por una Organización Terrorista Designada, sin especificar cuál. #NoticiasEVTV #EEUU #Narcotráfico #Narcoterrorismo #Pacifico #ComandoSur

UNITED STATES ATTACKED A “NARCO-BOAT” IN THE PACIFIC Southern Command confirmed a deadly attack on a vessel carrying narcotics in international waters, resulting in four deaths and carried out under direct orders from Secretary Pete Hegseth. The operation reignited the debate in the U.S. Senate regarding the legality of such actions. (+) in Clarín: https://clar.in/4oxn6Mz

ESTADOS UNIDOS ATACÓ UNA “NARCOLANCHA” EN EL PACÍFICO El Comando Sur confirmó un ataque letal contra un buque con narcóticos en aguas internacionales, con cuatro muertos y órdenes directas del secretario Pete Hegseth. El operativo reavivó la polémica en el Senado estadounidense por la legalidad de este tipo de acciones. (+) en Clarín: https://clar.in/4oxn6Mz

BREAKING | US confirms new attack on drug-running speedboat In a message directed at Latin America, US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth reported a lethal kinetic attack on a drug-running speedboat operated by a designated terrorist organization in international waters of the Eastern Pacific. The vessel, which was transporting illicit narcotics, was intercepted and attacked, resulting in the immediate deaths of four suspected drug traffickers on board. This operation brings the total number of attacks to 21, with 84 individuals neutralized, according to US authorities. The US identifies these speedboats as high-speed vessels used in drug trafficking, reinforcing its military and security campaign in the region. #USA #Security

BREAKING | EE. UU. confirma nuevo ataque contra narcolancha En un mensaje dirigido a Latinoamérica, Pete Hegseth —Secretario de Defensa de los Estados Unidos — informó un ataque cinético letal contra una narcolancha operada por una organización terrorista designada, en aguas internacionales del Pacífico Oriental. La embarcación, que transportaba narcóticos ilícitos, fue interceptada y atacada, causando la muerte inmediata de cuatro narcoterroristas a bordo. Este operativo se suma a 21 ataques previos, con 84 individuos neutralizados en total, según autoridades estadounidenses. EE. UU. identifica estas lanchas como embarcaciones de alta velocidad usadas en el tráfico de drogas, reforzando su campaña militar y de seguridad en la región. #EEUU #Seguridad

Another attack by Trump: sinks 'narco-boat' in the Pacific; 4 crew members died (VIDEO).

Otro ataque de Trump: hunde 'narcolancha' en el Pacífico; 4 tripulantes murieron (VIDEO).

After a pause, a new kinetic attack on a drug-running boat in the eastern Pacific. Its course can be determined since the north reference was not pixelated. The vessel was heading 160°, which is southeast, contrary to what would be expected—a course closer to north.

Después de una pausa, un nuevo ataque cinético a una narcolancha en el Pacífico oriental. Se puede determinar rumbo ya que la referencia a norte no fue pixelada. La embarcación llevaba un rumbo de 160°, eso es SE, contrario a lo que se esperaría un rumbo cercano al Norte.

The U.S. continues its military attacks against vessels belonging to organized crime in the Pacific.

EE.UU. no cesa sus ataques militares contra embarcaciones de la delincuencia organizada en el Pacífico.