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US Military Strikes Alleged Drug Boats in Eastern Pacific, Killing 8
The US military conducted strikes on three boats suspected of trafficking drugs in the eastern Pacific Ocean on Monday, resulting in the deaths of eight individuals, according to US Southern Command.
On 15 December, the US Joint Task Force Southern Spear, under the direction of Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, carried out lethal strikes on vessels operated by Designated Terrorist Organisations in international waters. These vessels were transiting known narco-trafficking routes, as confirmed by intelligence.
With the latest strikes, at least 95 people have been killed in operations targeting drug trafficking under Operation Southern Spear, a campaign launched by the Trump administration to curb the flow of narcotics. The most recent attack, on 4 December, killed four people aboard another suspected drug boat.
Read also: US Military Strikes on Venezuelan Drug Boat
The Trump administration has framed its campaign as part of an “armed conflict” against drug cartels. This position has raised legal questions, especially regarding the follow-up attack on 2 September, which some legal experts believe could be classified as a war crime.
In response to the escalating military actions, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer has called for an all-senators briefing on the strikes, to take place on Tuesday, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Hegseth expected to provide further details.
The operation is part of a broader pressure campaign against Venezuela, involving the movement of thousands of troops and a carrier strike group to the Caribbean, alongside new sanctions targeting Venezuelan oil shipments.
