The United States military has announced it carried out two new lethal strikes against suspected drug smuggling boats in the eastern Pacific Ocean on Thursday, resulting in the deaths of five individuals.
Details of the Latest Engagements
According to a statement from US Southern Command, intelligence indicated the vessels were operating on known narco-trafficking routes. The command released videos showing each boat moving at speed across the water before being hit by an explosion. Three people were killed on one vessel and two on the other during the operations on Thursday 19 December 2025.
Escalating Campaign Under Scrutiny
These latest attacks bring the total number of known boat strikes conducted by the US to 28, with at least 104 people killed since the campaign began. The Trump administration has publicly released these figures. President Donald Trump has defended the aggressive tactics, stating they are a necessary escalation to combat the flow of narcotics into the United States and framing the effort as an "armed conflict" with drug cartels.
However, the policy is facing growing scrutiny from US lawmakers. Questions are being raised about the legal basis and oversight of the strikes. The campaign's severity was highlighted early on when, in an incident in early September, a follow-up strike targeted and killed two survivors who were clinging to the wreckage of their boat after an initial attack.
Context and International Reaction
The military's statement asserted the vessels were "engaged in narco-trafficking operations," though it did not publicly present specific evidence from Thursday's incidents. This ongoing military-led interdiction campaign in international waters represents a significant and controversial shift in US drug enforcement strategy, moving it firmly into the realm of armed conflict. The long-term implications for regional security and international law remain a subject of intense debate.
