Three alleged narco-terrorists in the Eastern Pacific were killed in the fourth strike this week on a suspected drug vessel as part of the ongoing Operation Southern Spear, the US military confirmed. 

A successful lethal kinetic strike against the “vessel operated by Designated Terrorist Organizations” was carried out by the Joint Task Force Southern Spear on Friday, the US Southern Command announced — marking the seventh strike carried out by SOUTHCOM this month, FOX News reported.

“Intelligence confirmed the vessel was transiting along known narco-trafficking routes in the Eastern Pacific and was engaged in narco-trafficking operations,” SOUTHCOM wrote on X Friday.

“Three male narco-terrorists were killed during this action. No U.S. military forces were harmed.”

A 16-second clip posted by SOUTHCOM to X shows a single strike targeting the boat, which quickly erupts in flames. Formally launched by Secretary of War Pete Hegseth in November 2025, Operation Southern Spear is a military “counter-narcoterrorism campaign” intended to safeguard US national security—and is aimed at disrupting illegal drug trafficking in the Western Hemisphere, according to the Council on Foreign Relations. 

At least 43 strikes on suspected drug-smuggling boats across the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific have killed 148 people since September, 13WHAM reported.

Earlier this week, SOUTHCOM confirmed it carried out three strikes in the Eastern Pacific and Caribbean on Feb. 16, killing 11 people — noting that no American forces were harmed in those operations either.

“Eleven male narco-terrorists were killed during these actions, 4 on the first vessel in the Eastern Pacific, 4 on the second vessel in the Eastern Pacific, and 3 on the third vessel in the Caribbean,” SOUTHCOM said.

SOUTHCOM is responsible for military operations — including counter-narcotics missions — throughout Central and South America and the Caribbean. — and has carried out seven strikes against drug vessels this month. 

With Post Wires