The US military conducted a strike against an alleged drug-trafficking vessel in the eastern Pacific Ocean on Monday, killing two people, according to US Southern Command. At least 107 people have now been killed in strikes on suspected drug boats as part of a campaign, dubbed Operation Southern Spear, that the Trump administration has said is aimed at curtailing narcotics trafficking. The administration has labeled those killed as “unlawful combatants” and claimed the ability to engage in lethal strikes without judicial review due to a classified Justice Department finding. The US military most recently struck a “low-profile vessel” allegedly trafficking drugs in the eastern Pacific Ocean on December 22. The Trump administration’s strikes have prompted scrutiny from some members of Congress, in addition to human rights groups.

Source: Egypt Independent December 30, 2025 15:13 UTC