U.S. Southern Command Reports Lethal Kinetic Strike on Low-Profile Vessel Involved in Narcotics Trafficking

EASTERN PACIFIC - U.S. Southern Command reported that on December 22, 2025, it conducted a lethal kinetic strike against a low-profile vessel operating in international waters of the Eastern Pacific. The action was executed by Joint Task Force Southern Spear under the direction of the Secretary of War. SOUTHCOM indicated that intelligence assessments determined the vessel was operated by designated terrorist organizations and was actively engaged in narcotics trafficking, and noted the vessel followed established maritime routes commonly used for the movement of illicit narcotics from South American production areas toward North American distribution points. U.S. Southern Command maintains persistent surveillance and interdiction efforts throughout this region to disrupt such activities, which generate revenue supporting designated terrorist entities, according to its reporting. The strike resulted in the confirmed death of one male individual associated with the vessel's operations, according to the Command. No U.S. military personnel sustained injuries during the engagement, the command confirmed.