Dec. 19 (UPI) -- American warplanes struck two drug boats traveling known trafficking routes in the Eastern Pacific overnight, killing at least five "narco-terrorists," U.S. Southern Command said Friday.
The Florida-based command, which is responsible for the security of the United States and its allies in the Western Hemisphere, said in a post on X the strikes against what it said were Designated Terrorist Organizations were ordered by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
"Intelligence confirmed that the vessels were transiting along known narco-trafficking routes in the Eastern Pacific and were engaged in narco-trafficking operations. A total of five male narco-terrorists were killed during these actions -- three in the first vessel and two in the second vessel," said Southern Command.
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
Night-vision footage accompanying the announcement showed the boats speeding through the water under the cover of darkness before being hit by massive explosions, leaving them crippled and in flames. The weapons appear to target the cockpit area of the boats.
