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US Strike Kills Two on Alleged Drug Boat in Pacific as Anti-Narcotics Campaign Intensifies

The U.S. military conducted a lethal strike on an alleged drug-trafficking vessel in the eastern Pacific Ocean, killing two individuals. The action was part of Operation Southern Spear, an anti-narcotics campaign that has now resulted in at least 107 fatalities. President Trump separately alluded to U.S. operations targeting drug infrastructure in Venezuela, though he declined to provide explicit confirmation. The administration has significantly increased military pressure on narcotics networks in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific regions.

Key Points: US Strike Kills 2 on Drug Boat in Pacific, Part of Southern Spear

  • Strike part of Operation Southern Spear
  • Over 100 killed in campaign
  • Trump hints at separate Venezuela operation
  • Campaign targets drug routes in Pacific & Caribbean
2 min read

US strike on alleged drug boat kills two in Eastern Pacific

US military strike targets alleged narcotics traffickers in the eastern Pacific, killing two. Part of Operation Southern Spear, which has now killed over 100 people.

"Two male narco-terrorists were killed. No U.S. military forces were harmed. - U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM)"

Washington, DC, December 30

The US military carried out a strike on an alleged drug-trafficking boat in the eastern Pacific Ocean on Monday, killing two people, as part of Operation Southern Spear against narcotics smuggling, the US Southern Command said.

According to SOUTHCOM, the operation targeted an alleged drug boat at sea. The command confirmed that two people were killed in the strike and said no US service members were injured.

"On Dec. 29, at the direction of @SecWar Pete Hegseth, Joint Task Force Southern Spear conducted a lethal kinetic strike on a vessel operated by Designated Terrorist Organizations in international waters. Intelligence confirmed the vessel was transiting along known narco-trafficking routes in the Eastern Pacific and was engaged in narco-trafficking operations. Two male narco-terrorists were killed. No U.S. military forces were harmed," SOUTHCOM wrote in an X post.

The strike was conducted by US forces under SOUTHCOM as part of an ongoing anti-narcotics campaign launched by the Trump administration.

The operation took place in the eastern Pacific Ocean earlier on Monday.

SOUTHCOM said the strike is linked to Operation Southern Spear, a campaign aimed at disrupting drug trafficking routes. With this latest incident, at least 107 people have now been killed in strikes on suspected drug boats during the operation, according to official figures.

Earlier in the day, President Donald Trump spoke about a separate operation targeting drug infrastructure in Venezuela, offering limited details. He said there was "a major explosion in the dock area where they load the boats up with drugs."

"So we hit all the boats, and now we hit the area, it's an implementation area, that's where they implement, and that is no longer around," Trump added.

When asked if the US military carried out the Venezuela operation, Trump declined to clarify. "I don't want to say that," he said, CNN reported.

"I know exactly who it was, but I don't want to say who it was. But you know, it was along the shore."

Trump first disclosed the operation during a recent interview, where he said the US struck "a big plant, or a big facility," adding, We knocked that out," CNN quoted.

The Trump administration has stepped up pressure on Venezuela in recent weeks, threatening strikes on land while launching multiple operations in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific Ocean.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

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Priya S
Very troubling. Two lives lost based on "alleged" and "intelligence". Reminds me of how powerful nations operate. We in India know the devastating impact of drugs on our youth, but solutions must be lawful and respect human rights, not just missiles.
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Rohit P
The war on drugs needs strong action, no doubt. If these were indeed narco-terrorists funding violence, then the strike is justified. But the secrecy around the Venezuela operation is typical Trump style – all bluster, no clarity. 🤷‍♂️
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Sarah B
From an Indian perspective, we see how drug smuggling ruins families. Maybe harsh measures are needed to break these networks. But the article mentions "Designated Terrorist Organizations" – that's a serious label. Hope the intelligence was solid.
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Karthik V
International law? What international law? The strong do what they can. This is about US domestic politics and pressure on Venezuela before the election. Using our Navy, we patrol our waters. They patrol the world. Different rules.
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Nisha Z
Respectfully, I must criticize this approach. "Kill first, justify later" is not a sustainable counter-narcotics policy. It creates martyrs and fuels anti-US sentiment in Latin America. India's approach, while slower, focuses on rehabilitation and cutting financial flows. That's wiser in the long run.
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