U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) has confirmed a decisive military operation against narco-terrorist activity in international waters, underscoring the Trump administration’s continued emphasis on border security, counterterrorism, and regional stability.

According to an official SOUTHCOM statement, on December 31, Joint Task Force Southern Spear conducted a lethal kinetic strike on two vessels operated by designated terrorist organizations. The operation was carried out at the direction of U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth after intelligence confirmed the vessels were actively engaged in narco-trafficking while transiting along known smuggling routes in the Eastern Pacific.

The two speedboats were positively identified through advanced surveillance platforms before the strike was authorized. Precision-guided munitions were employed, resulting in the complete destruction of both vessels. Five narco-terrorists were killed during the operation — three aboard the first vessel and two aboard the second.

Infrared footage released alongside the announcement shows the vessels moving through open waters before being struck in rapid succession. The explosions engulfed the boats, sinking them within moments. The imagery highlights the U.S. military’s ability to detect, track, and neutralize hostile targets with speed and accuracy, even in remote maritime environments.

SOUTHCOM emphasized that the operation was conducted in accordance with international law and targeted only confirmed terrorist-linked trafficking assets. Officials noted that narco-terrorist networks not only fuel drug distribution but also finance broader criminal and extremist operations that destabilize the Western Hemisphere.

Operation Southern Spear reflects a broader strategy to dismantle transnational criminal organizations at sea before their illicit cargo reaches land-based distribution routes. By striking traffickers in international waters, U.S. forces aim to disrupt supply chains, degrade operational capacity, and send a clear deterrent message to terrorist and cartel-linked groups operating in the region.

The successful strike reinforces the United States’ commitment to maintaining security in the Eastern Pacific and protecting national and regional interests through decisive military action.