U.S. Southern Command Kills Four in Eastern Pacific Strike Under Operation Southern Spear

Overview

• On Dec. 4, Joint Task Force Southern Spear conducted a lethal strike in international waters in the Eastern Pacific that killed four men, according to U.S. Southern Command.
• Military officials said intelligence identified the vessel as operated by a designated terrorist organization and carrying illicit narcotics along a known trafficking route.
• The operation is part of Operation Southern Spear, a broader campaign reported to have struck more than 20 vessels and resulted in over 80 deaths across the Pacific and Caribbean.
• The White House confirmed a second bombardment that targeted survivors and attributed the decision to Special Operations chief Adm. Frank M. Bradley, describing the action as self-defense.
• Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has publicly led and defended the campaign and praised Bradley, while President Trump backed the effort against what officials describe as narcoterrorists.