US military conducts counter-narcotics strikes, eight killed

(The Center Square) – The U.S. military conducted five more strikes on drug boats in the Caribbean in the last days of 2025. This is according to the U.S. Southern Command, which posted videos of the strikes on social media. In total, eight people were killed in the strikes. Others jumped overboard. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth approved all of the strikes before they were initiated. Three vessels were targeted on Dec. 30 and two more on Dec. 31. “​​These vessels were operated by Designated Terrorist Organizations in international waters,” the U.S. Southern Command said in a statement. “Intelligence confirmed the vessels were transiting along known narco-trafficking routes.” The U.S. Coast Guard was deployed following the strikes, labeled “lethal kinetic strikes,” to search for survivors. This is just the latest series of strikes that are a part of President Donald Trump’s Joint Task Force Southern Spear. Last week, the U.S. conducted its first strike on a suspected drug loading site i