WASHINGTON – The U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) has announced that a lethal military strike was carried out on June 18 against a vessel allegedly linked to a designated terrorist organization operating in the Western Hemisphere.
According to a statement released by SOUTHCOM, the operation was conducted by Joint Task Force Southern Spear under the direction of SOUTHCOM Commander General Francis L. Donovan. The military described the action as a "lethal kinetic strike" targeting a vessel that intelligence agencies determined was involved in narcotics trafficking activities.
While initial reports did not disclose the precise location of the operation, subsequent information indicated that the vessel was traveling along known drug-trafficking routes in the Eastern Pacific Ocean. U.S. authorities stated that intelligence had confirmed the vessel's involvement in narcotics trafficking and its connection to an organization designated by the United States as a terrorist group.
According to SOUTHCOM, three individuals described as "narco-terrorists" were killed during the operation. The command reported that no U.S. military personnel were injured.
The strike is part of Operation Southern Spear, an ongoing campaign led by U.S. Southern Command aimed at disrupting narcotics trafficking networks and organizations that Washington has classified as terrorist entities operating throughout Latin America and the Caribbean. The operation combines military, intelligence, and law enforcement resources to target trafficking routes across the region.
SOUTHCOM has conducted multiple similar operations during the past year in both the Caribbean Sea and the Eastern Pacific. Military statements indicate that vessels suspected of transporting narcotics have repeatedly been targeted under the campaign.
The latest strike underscores the increasingly aggressive approach being taken by the United States against transnational criminal organizations involved in drug trafficking. However, the broader campaign has also drawn criticism from some lawmakers, legal experts, and human rights organizations, who have questioned the legality of using military force against suspected traffickers outside traditional conflict zones.
Additional details regarding the identity of the vessel, the organization involved, and the results of the operation are expected to be released by the U.S. Department of Defense and SOUTHCOM in the coming days.