U.S. Military Strikes Drug Ship in the Eastern Pacific
On Saturday, the U.S. military carried out an airstrike on a drug-laden ship operated by a terrorist organization in the Eastern Pacific Ocean, resulting in the deaths of three individuals linked to narco-terrorism, as reported by U.S. Southern Command.
This attack raises the total number of fatalities linked to U.S. operations against narco-terrorism to 82, with just three survivors reported. A mission aimed at curbing drug trafficking tied to designated terrorist groups is ongoing.
According to a post from U.S. Southern Command on X, intelligence indicated that the boats targeted in the recent strike were actively involved in drug smuggling along well-known routes. They characterized the operation as a “lethal motion operation,” emphasizing its role in disrupting international criminal organizations.
Army Secretary Pete Hegseth announced the official start of Operation Southern Spear on Thursday. This new mission is focused on dismantling narco-terrorism networks across Latin America.
US Military’s Ongoing Campaign
Hegseth mentioned on X that both U.S. Southern Command and Joint Task Force Southern Spear are responsible for this operation, which aims to safeguard the homeland and dismantle narco-terrorism operations throughout the Western Hemisphere.
“This mission is fundamentally about defending our homeland, eliminating narco-terrorists from the region, and protecting American lives from the drugs harming our communities,” Hegseth stated.
Last week, the U.S. conducted its 20th airstrike on a vessel suspected of drug trafficking, which resulted in the deaths of four more individuals associated with narco-terrorism, according to Pentagon officials.
Since September, numerous ships tied to the Torren de Aragua gang from Venezuela and Colombia’s Ejercito de Liberación Nacional have been destroyed in a series of operations. The campaign kicked off on September 2, initially targeting Torren de Aragua members and has continued to dismantle more groups involved in human trafficking and drug smuggling.
U.S. forces have targeted various types of vessels, including submarines, fishing boats, and speedboats, leading to criticisms from Colombia’s president. Some strikes occurred off the Venezuelan coast, while others have focused on the eastern Pacific, where recent attacks have been more frequent.
The U.S. Navy has previously indicated plans to utilize “long-stay robotic surface ships, small robotic interceptors, and vertical takeoff and landing robotic aircraft” in these operations under the direction of the U.S. 4th Fleet and Southern Command.
