U.S. Military Strikes Drug Boats in Eastern Pacific, Killing Eight

The U.S. military struck three boats suspected of drug trafficking in the Eastern Pacific on December 15, 2025, killing eight individuals. This operation, part of a broader campaign initiated by the Trump administration, has seen at least 95 fatalities in total since striking began in September, according to the U.S.

Southern Command. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth authorized the strikes, which are described as targeting vessels operated by designated terrorist organizations engaged in narco-trafficking along known routes.

Legal experts and some congressional members have raised concerns over the legality of these strikes, especially following a controversial September 2 attack that resulted in the deaths of survivors from an initial strike.

The military campaign has ramped up tensions with Venezuela, which the U.S. accuses of harboring drug traffickers, and both countries have condemned the strikes. The military has also publicly defended these actions, linking them to efforts to combat the influx of fentanyl and other illicit drugs into the United States.

Admiral Alvin Holsey, who recently retired, reportedly had raised concerns about the operation, which has drawn bipartisan scrutiny regarding its legal justifications and humanitarian implications.