U.S. Joint Task Force Southern Spear struck and sank a vessel in international waters of the Eastern Pacific, killing four militants and reporting no U.S. casualties, SOUTHCOM said. Officials say senior defense leaders authorized the operation after intelligence confirmed the vessel’s apparent mission. The Pentagon has not identified the group or the individuals killed. Fox News reports the campaign has produced 98 casualties since Sept. 2.
US Strike Sinks Narco‑Terrorist Vessel Along Major Pacific Drug Route, SOUTHCOM Confirms
A Joint Task Force Southern Spear team carried out a lethal strike Wednesday in international waters along a well‑known narcotics trafficking corridor in the Eastern Pacific, U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) said in a post on X.
SOUTHCOM described the action as a "lethal kinetic strike" against a vessel it says was operated by a designated terrorist organization. The command reported that four male militants aboard the craft were killed and that no U.S. military personnel were harmed.
Officials told SOUTHCOM the operation was authorized by senior defense leaders after intelligence reportedly verified the vessel’s mission. The Pentagon has not released the identities of those killed or named the specific organization involved.
Joint Task Force Southern Spear was formed to combine Navy, Coast Guard, intelligence and special operations assets to rapidly engage time‑sensitive maritime targets. Fox News reported that the broader campaign of maritime strikes has resulted in 98 casualties since it began on Sept. 2; that figure has not been independently confirmed by the Pentagon.
The Department of Defense did not immediately respond to requests for further comment.
