US strikes drug trafficking vessels in eastern Pacific, five killed video

The United States carried out strikes on two vessels allegedly involved in drug trafficking in the eastern Pacific Ocean on December 18, according to official statements.

US Southern Command said the operation was conducted by the joint task force “Southern Spear” on the orders of US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth.

The command reported on its X account that intelligence assessments indicated both vessels were operating in international waters along established drug trafficking routes and were linked to organisations designated as terrorist groups.

On Dec. 18, at the direction of @SecWar Pete Hegseth, Joint Task Force Southern Spear conducted lethal kinetic strikes on two vessels operated by Designated Terrorist Organizations in international waters. Intelligence confirmed that the vessels were transiting along known… pic.twitter.com/CcCyOgYRto

— U.S. Southern Command (@Southcom) December 19, 2025

The strikes resulted in the deaths of five people—three aboard the first vessel and two on the second.

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

In parallel, Washington has significantly expanded its military presence in the Caribbean region. By November, the United States had deployed a naval grouping consisting of destroyers and amphibious assault ships, with the total US military contingent in the region reaching approximately 16,000 personnel. In December, this force was 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 by citing the need to combat drug traffickers, whom he says pose a threat to US national security.

The White House 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