On Dec. 15, at the direction of @SecWar Pete Hegseth, Joint Task Force Southern Spear conducted lethal kinetic strikes on three vessels operated by Designated Terrorist Organizations in international waters. Intelligence confirmed that the vessels were transiting along known narco-trafficking routes in the Eastern Pacific and were engaged in narco-trafficking. A total of eight male narco-terrorists were killed during these actions—three in the first vessel, two in the second and three in the third. #OpSouthernSpear

The U.S. military says it struck three more alleged drug-carrying boats in the Eastern Pacific on Monday, the latest in a campaign of vessel strikes ordered by the Trump administration that have killed at least 95 people in 25 boats. Monday's strikes killed eight men across three boats, the U.S. military's Southern Command said in a post on X. It alleged the occupants were "male narco-terrorists" and the boats were "transiting along known narco-trafficking routes in the Eastern Pacific and were engaged in narco-trafficking." The strike was authorized by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Southern Command said. Southern Command also posted a 47-second video that appeared to show three separate strikes on vessels. On Dec. 15, at the direction of @SecWar Pete Hegseth, Joint Task Force Southern Spear conducted lethal kinetic strikes on three vessels operated by Designated Terrorist Organizations in international waters. Intelligence confirmed that the vessels were transiting along known… pic.twitter.com/IQfCVvUpau — U.S. Southern Command (@Southcom) December 16, 2025 The U.S. military began striking boats in the Eastern Pacific and Caribbean in early September, part of what the Trump administration has described as a "non-international armed conflict" against drug cartels that it has designated as terror groups. The campaign is increasingly controversial, however. Democratic lawmakers and a handful of Republicans argue the Trump administration lacks legal authority to conduct the strikes and hasn't provided sufficient evidence that the boats were actually carrying narcotics. Meanwhile, a Sept. 2 strike that started off the campaign has drawn scrutiny after reports emerged that two people in the vessel survived the initial hit but were killed in a follow-on strike. Democrats who watched a video of the Sept. 2 operation decried the decision, and some critics have warned that killing shipwrecked survivors could constitute a war crime. Republicans have defended the follow-on strike, arguing the survivors may have still been in the fight. The boat strikes are part of a broader U.S. military buildup in the Caribbean and near Latin America, with several naval vessels — including the USS Gerald R. Ford — and fighter jets shifting to the region in recent months. The administration has heaped pressure on the government of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, accusing him of collaborating with drug cartels, and it has also argued that Colombia has failed to crack down on drug trafficking. Both countries have criticized the boat strikes, and the Venezuelan government has accused the Trump administration of seeking regime change.

On December 15, U.S. military forces conducted airstrikes on three small vessels in the eastern Pacific Ocean, resulting in the deaths of eight individuals. This operation has been characterized by officials as a counter-drug effort occurring in international waters. According to U.S. Southern Command, the boats were suspected of being involved in narcotics trafficking networks, with those killed labeled as “narco-terrorists.” However, reports have emerged suggesting that while the strikes happened, there has yet to be any evidence provided that the vessels were carrying drugs or weapons at the time of the incidents. The Associated Press reported on the strikes, supported by military statements and video footage disseminated by Southern Command. The operation resulted in one strike killing three individuals, a second strike killing two, and a third strike killing three more. Released footage shows one of the boats exploding following an airstrike, although it does not capture any indications of hostile activities or illicit cargo aboard the vessel. While officials emphasized that the motive for the operation was to disrupt trafficking routes ahead of drugs entering the United States, they did not detail any attempts at interdiction, boarding, or capture prior to resorting to lethal force. This airstrike operation aligns with a broader trend observed in U.S. military strategy, where reliance on military intervention has increased in addressing drug trafficking, moving away from traditional law enforcement tactics. Senior officials have frequently referred to trafficking networks as “narco-terrorists,” a shift in rhetoric that carries significant legal implications. This framing suggests an interpretation of drug trafficking as a national security threat, thereby justifying the deployment of military resources and lethal interventions against these groups. Regional reporting indicates a grim toll from these operations thus far, with numerous deaths recorded across maritime zones in both the Caribbean and the Pacific. Growing concern has emerged within Congress, where lawmakers have started to query the administration about the extent of these military operations and the apparent lack of articulated limitations around them. Officials, including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, are under scrutiny regarding the legal parameters guiding these strikes and the clarity of rules governing when lethal force may be deployed against suspected traffickers. Meanwhile, the legal framework surrounding the use of lethal force in this context remains nebulous. Under international law, the use of lethal force is stringently limited outside of recognized armed conflict. Operations aimed at combating criminal behavior must adhere to international human rights law, stipulating that such actions are lawful only when strictly necessary for the protection of life and when no alternative measures are available. Merely suspecting criminal activity does not fulfill this requirement. Human Rights Watch has raised alarms regarding the possibility that U.S. strikes on suspected drug vessels could be classified as unlawful killings if the government fails to demonstrate either an ongoing armed conflict or an imminent threat to life. The organization underlines that categorizing individuals as “narco-terrorists” alone does not grant legal authority for their execution. Even if the administration claims the existence of an armed conflict, international humanitarian law mandates a strict adherence to principles of distinction, proportionality, and military necessity—criteria that cannot be adequately evaluated without revealing pertinent targeting intelligence. The implications of such military operations extend to regional and diplomatic arenas as well. Governments in Latin America have historically voiced concerns regarding the militarization of U.S. counter-drug policies, particularly when these measures circumvent established cooperative law enforcement frameworks. For instance, Venezuelan officials have denounced similar military operations as unlawful uses of force, regardless of their execution beyond national waters. These actions risk perpetuating a precedent where presumed criminals can be targeted militarily with neither trial nor capture, nor are they substantiated by public evidence of wrongdoing. The December strikes epitomize a significant shift in the U.S. perspective on drug trafficking, reframing the issue as a direct security threat rather than a criminal matter to be managed through policies of arrest and prosecution. This paradigm shift brings forth legal and ethical dilemmas, as the absence of clearly defined legal justifications, transparent evidentiary standards, and meaningful oversight increasingly blurs the distinction between law enforcement and execution. The aftermath of the Pacific operation raises pivotal questions that remain unanswered: What legal framework governs these military strikes? What evidentiary thresholds authorize the employment of lethal force? What channels are in place for investigating potential errors or abuses? Until the administration provides clarity on these critical issues, the ongoing military engagement in drug trafficking domains may increasingly appear to overstep legal restraints.

US destroys three more drug boats in the Pacific, killing eight The United States carried out new attacks against three drug trafficking vessels in the Eastern Pacific, near Colombia: eight crew members were killed, according to the Southern Command. The operation, broadcast in a video on the X network, was ordered by US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and is part of Operation Southern Spear, focused on cutting off maritime routes used for drug and arms trafficking. Military intelligence identified that the drug boats were navigating known drug trafficking corridors and actively participating in the transport of illicit cargo, according to the Southern Command. #EVTVNews #USA #DrugTrafficking #Caribbean #Pacific #SouthernSpear #Venezuela

EEUU destruye otras tres narcolanchas en el Pacífico con saldo de ocho muertos Estados Unidos ejecutó nuevos ataques contra tres embarcaciones del narcotráfico en el Pacífico Oriental, cerca de Colombia: ocho tripulantes murieron, según confirmó el Comando Sur. El operativo, difundido en video en la red X, fue ordenado por el secretario de Guerra de EEUU, Pete Hegseth, y se enmarca en la operación ‘Lanza del Sur’, enfocada en cortar rutas marítimas usadas para el tráfico de drogas y armas. La inteligencia militar identificó que las narcolanchas navegaban por corredores conocidos del narcotráfico y participaban activamente en el transporte de cargamentos ilícitos, según el Comando Sur. #NoticiasEVTV #EEUU #Narcotráfico #Caribe #Pacífico #LanzaDelSur #Venezuela

#ATTENTION | Southern Command confirmed “lethal kinetic attacks” against three vessels in the Eastern Pacific in which “eight male narco-terrorists” were killed

#ATENCIÓN | El Comando Sur confirmó “ataques cinéticos letales” contra tres embarcaciones en el Pacífico Oriental en los que murieron “ocho narcoterroristas hombres”

The United States carried out three attacks against three vessels allegedly operated by drug traffickers in the Eastern Pacific, near Colombia, as part of Operation Southern Spear. https://lopezdoriga.com/?p=1756415

Estados Unidos realizó tres ataques contra tres embarcaciones supuestamente operadas por narcotraficantes en el Pacífico Oriental, cerca de Colombia, en el marco del operativo 'Lanza del Sur'. https://lopezdoriga.com/?p=1756415