0
0
The US military conducted lethal strikes on three suspected drug-trafficking vessels in the eastern Pacific Ocean on Monday, December 15, resulting in eight deaths, the US Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) confirmed.
The operation, authorized by Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, was carried out by Joint Task Force Southern Spear against vessels operated by Designated Terrorist Organizations in international waters. Intelligence indicated that the ships were traveling along known narco-trafficking routes and actively engaged in smuggling.
These strikes are part of the Trump administration’s “Operation Southern Spear,” a campaign that marks a significant shift in narcotics policy by treating drug cartels as military targets. Since its launch on September 2, 2025, the initiative has resulted in at least 95 deaths, including a December 4 strike on a suspected drug boat that killed four people.
The administration frames the campaign as a measure to dismantle the infrastructure behind the ongoing fentanyl crisis in the United States. It has formally notified Congress that the US is in an “armed conflict” with drug cartels, a designation that allows the government to classify those killed as “unlawful combatants.” This status, supported by a classified Justice Department ruling, permits military strikes without judicial review.
However, the strategy has sparked legal and political controversy. Experts and some Democratic lawmakers have raised concerns about potential war crimes, citing a September 2 strike in which a “follow-up” attack was reportedly used to ensure no survivors remained after the initial strike.
In response, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer announced an all-senators briefing on Tuesday featuring Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Secretary of War Pete Hegseth to provide oversight on the campaign.
These military operations are also part of a broader months-long pressure campaign against Venezuela, including the deployment of thousands of troops and a carrier strike group to the Caribbean, new sanctions on shipping companies, and the recent seizure of a sanctioned oil tanker off the Venezuelan coast.
