U.S. Military Conducts 22nd Drug Boat Strike in Eastern Pacific, Four Casualties Reported

Latest Strike in Eastern Pacific Confirmed

The U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) announced on Thursday, December 4, 2025, that it conducted another strike against a suspected drug boat in the eastern Pacific Ocean. This operation resulted in four casualties, according to official statements. The strike marks the 22nd such action by the U.S. military against alleged drug trafficking vessels in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific under the Trump administration.

A video accompanying the announcement reportedly showed a small boat moving across the water before being engulfed by a large explosion, followed by flames and smoke.

Operation Southern Spear and Administration's Stance

This latest strike falls under Operation Southern Spear, a counter-narcotics campaign initiated by the Trump administration. The administration has characterized the targets as 'narco-terrorists' and asserts that these operations are crucial to disrupting the flow of illicit drugs into the United States. The campaign began with enhanced counternarcotics operations by SOUTHCOM on April 1, 2020, aiming to reduce the availability of illicit drugs and degrade transnational criminal organizations.

The U.S. military's involvement in these kinetic strikes represents a significant departure from traditional maritime law enforcement practices, which typically involve interdiction by the U.S. Coast Guard. The Coast Guard, which serves as the lead federal agency for maritime drug interdiction, has also reported record seizures, with nearly 510,000 pounds of cocaine interdicted in the Eastern Pacific and Caribbean during fiscal year 2025.

Growing Scrutiny and Casualties

The campaign has faced increasing scrutiny, particularly following an incident on September 2, which was the first strike of the campaign. Lawmakers have initiated an investigation into this initial strike, prompted by reports of a follow-on attack that allegedly killed survivors. The total death toll from these military strikes has now reached at least 87 people.

Concerns have been raised by legal experts and some lawmakers regarding the legality and oversight of these operations, with questions about whether killing survivors at sea could violate the laws of military warfare. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Admiral Frank 'Mitch' Bradley, who oversees U.S. Special Operations Command, have been central figures in discussions surrounding the command and legality of these strikes.

International and Diplomatic Context

The aggressive counter-narcotics campaign has also led to diplomatic friction, particularly with Venezuela. Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has accused Washington of using these operations as a pretext to destabilize his government, an allegation U.S. officials deny. The U.S. has designated several groups, including Venezuela's Tren de Aragua and the Cartel of the Suns, as foreign terrorist organizations, linking them to narco-terrorism.