U.S. Southern Command carries out a new 'lethal kinetic strike' on suspected drug boat

The U.S. Southern Command reported Thursday that the Department of Defense executed another lethal kinetic strike under the direction of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on a vessel in the eastern Pacific Ocean, resulting in the deaths of four individuals.

On December 4, following instructions from Secretary Hegseth, Joint Task Force Southern Spear carried out a lethal kinetic strike on a vessel in international waters linked to a Designated Terrorist Organization, the Southern Command announced on X.

The Pentagon has consistently stated that such targeted vessels are operating along recognized drug trafficking routes and transporting illegal narcotics when strikes are conducted. Southern Command confirmed that intelligence verified the vessel was carrying illicit drugs and moving along a known trafficking path.

This marks at least the 22nd reported military strike on suspected drug boats in recent months by the Trump administration, with the previous strike occurring on November 15. These operations have reportedly resulted in at least 86 fatalities.

The administration has not publicly released evidence supporting its claims regarding the vessels, their occupants, cargo, or casualty figures. Both the House and Senate have opened inquiries into strikes carried out on September 2 in the Caribbean, with some critics suggesting that a second strike on that day may constitute a war crime.

The White House indicated that Navy Admiral Frank M. Bradley, who led Joint Special Operations Command at the time, ordered the second strike on a vessel allegedly transporting narcotics from Venezuela, resulting in the deaths of survivors from the initial strike. A defense official told NBC News that Bradley considered the remaining individuals legitimate military targets.

Pentagon press secretary Kingsley Wilson defended the operations, stating they "are lawful under U.S. and international law, fully compliant with the Law of Armed Conflict, and approved by military and civilian legal authorities throughout the chain of command."

President Donald Trump commented this week that he would have no objection to releasing any available footage of the September 2 second strike and affirmed his support for targeting the vessels. Whoever is piloting those boats, most of them are gone, but they are responsible for attempting to harm people in our country, Trump told reporters.

Author: Logan Reeves