US carries out lethal strike on narco-trafficking vessel in Pacific video

The Joint Task Force Southern Spear, acting on direct orders from US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth, carried out what it described as a “lethal strike” against a vessel used by terrorist organisations in the eastern Pacific Ocean.

According to Caliber.Az, the operation was confirmed by US Southern Command in a statement published on the social media platform X.

On Dec. 22, at the direction of @SecWar Pete Hegseth, Joint Task Force Southern Spear conducted a lethal kinetic strike on a low-profile vessel operated by Designated Terrorist Organizations in international waters. Intelligence confirmed the low-profile vessel was transiting… pic.twitter.com/LGzEaQSTiR

— U.S. Southern Command (@Southcom) December 23, 2025

“Intelligence confirmed the low-profile vessel was transiting along known narco-trafficking routes in the Eastern Pacific and was engaged in narco-trafficking operations,” the command said.

The statement added that the operation resulted in the confirmed death of one “narco-terrorist,” while stressing that no US service members were injured during the strike.

The incident followed an earlier US attack on another vessel described as belonging to narco-terrorist groups in international waters of the Pacific Ocean. Media reports indicate that, in recent months, US forces have destroyed more than 20 boats off the coast of Latin America as part of operations presented as counter-narcotics efforts. At least 90 people are reported to have been killed in these incidents.

At the same time, Washington has significantly expanded its military presence in the Caribbean region. By November, the United States had deployed a naval grouping that included destroyers and amphibious assault ships, bringing the total number of US military personnel in the region to approximately 16,000. In December, this force was further reinforced by a carrier strike group led by the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford, which is operating in the southern Caribbean Sea.

US President Donald Trump has defended the increased military presence in the Caribbean, arguing that it is necessary to combat drug traffickers, who he says pose a threat to US national security.

The White House, for its part, has stated that the campaign is specifically aimed at Venezuelan groups designated by Washington as foreign terrorist organisations, which US authorities accuse of supplying narcotics to the United States.

 By Tamilla Hasanova