The US military conducted lethal strikes against three suspected drug-trafficking vessels in the eastern Pacific Ocean on Monday, December 15, resulting in eight deaths according to the US Southern Command (SOUTHCOM).

 

 

This operation, carried out on December 15, was authorized by Secretary of War Pete Hegseth.

 

 

In a statement released on X (formerly Twitter), SOUTHCOM confirmed that Joint Task Force Southern Spear executed the kinetic strikes on vessels operated by Designated Terrorist Organizations in international waters.

 

 

Intelligence confirmed the ships were transiting along known narco-trafficking routes and were actively engaged in smuggling.

 

 

These latest strikes are a continuation of the Trump administration’s “Operation Southern Spear,” a campaign representing a major shift in narcotics policy by treating cartels as military targets.

 

 

Since starting on September 2, 2025, the death toll from this initiative has reached at least 95 people. The most recent action prior to this occurred on December 4, when four people were killed on a suspected drug boat in the Eastern Pacific.

 

 

This aggressive strategy aims to dismantle the infrastructure the administration blames for the ongoing fentanyl crisis in the United States.

 

 

The campaign has sparked significant legal and political controversy regarding the use of lethal force in international waters.

 

 

The administration has formally informed Congress that the U.S. is in an “armed conflict” with drug cartels, a designation that allows them to label those killed as “unlawful combatants.”

 

 

This status, backed by a classified Justice Department finding, allegedly permits military strikes without judicial review.

 

 

However, legal experts and some Democratic lawmakers have raised concerns over potential war crimes, specifically citing a September 2 strike where a “follow-up” attack was used to ensure no survivors remained after an initial hit.

 

 

In response to these developments, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer announced an all-senators briefing for Tuesday featuring Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Secretary of War Pete Hegseth to provide necessary oversight.

 

 

These military actions are also occurring within the context of a months-long pressure campaign against Venezuela.

 

 

This broader strategy includes the deployment of thousands of troops and a carrier strike group to the Caribbean, alongside new sanctions on shipping companies and the recent seizure of a sanctioned oil tanker off the Venezuelan coast