Dec. 17 (UPI) -- The U.S. military killed four people Wednesday in its latest strike targeting boats in the eastern Pacific and the Caribbean Sea as questions continue to swirl around the legality of the attacks.
U.S. Southern Command announced the "lethal kinetic strike" on the vessel on X, saying the boat was operated by a Designated Terrorist Organization in international waters. The alleged terrorist organization piloting the boat was not mentioned, nor was proof provided confirming the vessel was transporting narcotics.
The strike was at the direction of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, the command said.
"Intelligence confirmed that the vessel was transiting along a known narco-trafficking route in the Eastern Pacific and was engaged in narco-trafficking operations," SOUTHCOM said.
On Dec. 17, at the direction of @SecWar Pete Hegseth, Joint Task Force Southern Spear conducted a lethal kinetic strike on a vessel operated by a Designated Terrorist Organizations in international waters. Intelligence confirmed that the vessel was transiting along a known... pic.twitter.com/Yhu3LSOyea— U.S. Southern Command (@Southcom) December 18, 2025
