U.S. Military Escalates Drug Trafficking Operations in Pacific

The U.S. military has intensified its operations against drug trafficking in the Eastern Pacific, conducting a lethal strike on December 17, 2025, which killed four alleged narco-terrorists aboard a vessel identified as operating in a known drug corridor.

According to CBS News, this strike is part of a larger campaign that has seen 26 strikes since September, totaling 99 reported casualties. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated the operations are aimed at vessels operated by designated terrorist organizations, though critics, including some lawmakers, have raised concerns about the legality of these strikes under international law, particularly following a controversial 'double-tap' strike that reportedly killed survivors of an initial attack.

The operations are framed within the context of U.S. pressure on Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro, accused by the U.S. of collaborating with drug cartels, as reported by Fox News. Despite the military's assertions, no concrete evidence has been publicly released to confirm the narcotics activities of the targeted vessels, prompting calls for greater transparency from the Pentagon, as highlighted by The Hill.