Lethal US strike sinks narco-terrorist vessel along major Pacific drug route, Pentagon confirms
Joint Task Force Southern Spear conducted lethal kinetic operation in international waters
By
Jasmine BaehrFox NewsPublished
December 17, 2025 9:22pm ESTclose
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A Joint Task Force Southern Spear team struck a narco-terrorist vessel transiting a well-known Pacific drug corridor, killing four militants with no U.S. casualties, according to a post Wednesday night shared on X by U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM).
Joint Task Force Southern Spear conducted a lethal kinetic strike on a vessel operated by a Designated Terrorist Organization.
The strike occurred Wednesday in international waters along a known narco-trafficking route in the Eastern Pacific. Four male narco-terrorists were killed, according to the Department of War.
No U.S. military personnel were harmed.
The operation was initiated at the direction of Secretary of War Pete Hegseth after intelligence verified the vessel’s mission.
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SOUTHCOM said it carried out a lethal kinetic strike that killed four male narco-terrorists in the Eastern Pacific. (U.S. Southern Command via X)
Joint Task Force Southern Spear was established to help unify Navy, Coast Guard, intelligence and special operations assets to rapidly strike time-sensitive targets at sea.
Fox News confirmed that 98 casualties have resulted from these strikes since they began on Sept. 2.
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The Pentagon has not released the identities of the four killed narco-terrorists or the specific terrorist organization involved.
The Department of War did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.
Jasmine Baehr is a Breaking News Writer for Fox News Digital, where she covers politics, the military, faith and culture.
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