U.S. forces conducted a targeted strike on November 11, 2025, against a narcotics vessel in the Eastern Pacific, resulting in the deaths of three suspected narco-terrorists. The operation was confirmed by U.S. Southern Command, which noted that the vessel was associated with a designated terrorist organization operating in international waters.
This strike marks a continuation of an aggressive campaign against transnational criminal networks, raising the total number of suspected narco-terrorists killed in the operation to 82. U.S. officials reported that three individuals survived the latest engagement. The ongoing campaign aims to disrupt drug trafficking activities linked to various organizations, including those identified as terrorist groups.
Details of the Operation
In a post on X, U.S. Southern Command indicated that intelligence verified the targeted vessel was involved in narcotics smuggling along a known trafficking route. The command described the mission as a “lethal kinetic operation” designed to undermine criminal enterprises operating in the region.
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth announced the initiation of Operation Southern Spear on X, emphasizing its purpose in combating narco-terrorist networks across Latin America. “This mission defends our Homeland, removes narco-terrorists from our Hemisphere, and secures our Homeland from the drugs that are killing our people,” Hegseth stated.
The operation is executed under the auspices of Joint Task Force Southern Spear, which collaborates closely with U.S. Southern Command. Over the past weeks, U.S. forces have intensified their operations, conducting their 20th strike on suspected drug-trafficking vessels just prior to this latest engagement.
Ongoing Campaign Against Narco-Terrorism
Since early September, U.S. military actions in the Eastern Pacific and Caribbean have targeted numerous vessels linked to criminal organizations, such as Venezuela’s Tren de Aragua gang and Colombia’s Ejército de Liberación Nacional (ELN). The campaign initiated on September 2 with a strike that resulted in the deaths of 11 alleged members of the Tren de Aragua, continuing through October and November with further operations aimed at disrupting known trafficking routes.
The U.S. military’s focus has included a variety of craft, from submersibles to fishing boats and high-speed vessels. One operation involving an ELN-affiliated vessel drew significant attention after three men were killed, prompting criticism from the President of Colombia.
Leading Operation Southern Spear is the U.S. Navy, operating under the 4th Fleet and Southern Command. The mission employs advanced technologies, including long-dwell robotic surface vessels and vertical takeoff and landing robotic air vehicles, to enhance operational effectiveness.
This campaign forms part of a broader U.S. strategy to dismantle narco-terrorist networks and reduce the influx of illegal drugs into the United States. The ongoing operations highlight the U.S. commitment to addressing drug trafficking and its associated threats in the region.
For further updates, please refer to the official communications from U.S. Southern Command.
