U.S. Strikes 3 Narco-Trafficking Vessels In Convoy — 3 Dead, Others Jump Overboard

At the direction of United States Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth, Joint Task Force Southern Spear conducted lethal kinetic strikes on Tuesday (30th December, 2025) against three (3) narco-trafficking vessels traveling as a convoy in international waters, operated by Designated Terrorist Organizations (DTOs), killing three (3) in total. This was announced on Wednesday afternoon (31st December, 2025) by U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM).

On Dec. 30, at the direction of @SecWar Pete Hegseth, Joint Task Force Southern Spear conducted kinetic strikes against three narco-trafficking vessels traveling as a convoy. These vessels were operated by Designated Terrorist Organizations in international waters. Intelligence… pic.twitter.com/NHRNIzcrFS

— U.S. Southern Command (@Southcom) December 31, 2025

According to SOUTHCOM, “Intelligence confirmed the vessels were transiting along known narco-trafficking routes and had transferred narcotics between the three (3) vessels prior to the strikes. Three (3) narco-terrorists aboard the first vessel were killed in the first engagement. The remaining narco-terrorists abandoned the other two (2) vessels, jumping overboard and distancing themselves before follow-on engagements sank their respective vessels.” 

Following the engagements, SOUTHCOM said it immediately notified the U.S. Coast Guard to activate the Search and Rescue system. No further information was provided on the survivors.

More on this as it becomes available.