Overview
- The Dec. 15 action targeted three vessels in the eastern Pacific, killing eight, SOUTHCOM said on X as reporting continues to develop.
- Joint Task Force Southern Spear carried out the strikes at the direction of Secretary of War Pete Hegseth.
- The boats were hit in international waters and were described as operated by Designated Terrorist Organizations.
- SOUTHCOM said intelligence showed the vessels were transiting known narco-trafficking routes and were engaged in trafficking.
- Media tallies place deaths linked to Operation Southern Spear at at least 95, including four killed in a Dec. 4 strike.