U.S. Military Conducts Strikes on Drug Boats, Killing 8 Narco-Terrorists

The U.S. military conducted three strikes on December 15, 2025, targeting suspected drug boats in the eastern Pacific, resulting in the deaths of eight individuals described as 'narco-terrorists' by the U.S.

Southern Command. This operation is part of an ongoing military campaign initiated by the Trump administration against drug trafficking organizations designated as terrorist groups. The strikes, which were authorized by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, brought the total number of confirmed strikes to 25, with at least 95 fatalities reported since the campaign began in September, according to multiple sources including CBS News and the Washington Examiner.

The vessels targeted were alleged to be engaging in narco-trafficking along known routes and were operating in international waters. However, the legality of these strikes has come under scrutiny, with critics arguing that the U.S. government has not provided sufficient evidence to justify the attacks and that they may contravene laws of war, particularly in light of a controversial follow-up strike that targeted survivors of an earlier operation.

The campaign has also intensified diplomatic tensions with Venezuela and Colombia, with both nations criticizing the U.S. actions as violations of sovereignty and accusing the Trump administration of seeking regime change.

The ongoing military presence in the region, which includes significant naval assets, reflects a heightened commitment to combating the flow of drugs, particularly fentanyl, into the United States, a major contributor to the national overdose crisis.