Additional Coverage:
- US military strikes narco-terrorist vessels in latest Eastern Pacific drug trafficking operation (foxnews.com)
U.S. Forces Deliver Decisive Blow to Narco-Terrorist Operations in Eastern Pacific
In a significant development in the ongoing fight against international drug trafficking, Joint Task Force Southern Spear successfully engaged and neutralized two suspected narco-terrorist vessels in the Eastern Pacific on Thursday. The operation, which resulted in the deaths of five militants, was conducted without any U.S. casualties.
U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) released a video confirming the strikes, which showed one of the targeted boats engulfed in flames. According to a statement from SOUTHCOM, the lethal kinetic strikes were carried out on December 18th, under the direction of Secretary of War Pete Hegseth.
“Intelligence confirmed that the vessels were transiting along known narco-trafficking routes in the Eastern Pacific and were engaged in narco-trafficking operations,” the statement read. It further detailed that “a total of five male narco-terrorists were killed during these actions – three in the first vessel and two in the second vessel. No U.S. military forces were harmed.”
Joint Task Force Southern Spear was established to streamline and unify Navy, Coast Guard, intelligence, and special operations assets, enabling rapid responses to time-sensitive targets at sea.
While the identities of the militants and the specific terrorist organizations involved have not yet been released by the Pentagon, these strikes are part of a broader campaign by the U.S. to disrupt narco-terrorist networks. Dozens of similar operations have been conducted in the Eastern Pacific and Caribbean, targeting groups such as Venezuela’s Tren de Aragua and Colombia’s Ejército de Liberación Nacional.
The campaign intensified on September 2nd with a strike that reportedly killed 11 alleged members of Tren de Aragua, followed by subsequent operations that have eliminated dozens more across known trafficking routes. U.S. forces have engaged various types of vessels, including submersibles, fishing boats, and high-speed crafts, demonstrating a comprehensive approach to interdiction.
This ongoing effort aligns with the Trump administration’s recently launched “Fentanyl Free America” plan. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has indicated that these strikes on suspected Caribbean drug vessels are playing a crucial role in curbing the flow of illegal narcotics into the United States.