In a bold move against drug trafficking in the Caribbean, U.S. forces launched a lethal strike on March 25, targeting a suspected narcotics vessel. The operation resulted in the deaths of four individuals identified as narco-terrorists, U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) reported.

According to SOUTHCOM, the strike was executed under the command of Gen. Francis L. Donovan, who heads Joint Task Force Southern Spear. The action was directed against a vessel operated by groups designated as terrorist organizations, as stated in a post shared on social media platform X.

Intelligence had confirmed that the targeted vessel was navigating established drug trafficking routes in the Caribbean and was actively involved in narcotics operations. “Four male narco-terrorists were killed during this action,” SOUTHCOM noted, while also reassuring that no U.S. military personnel were harmed in the process.

This latest strike signals a heightened commitment by SOUTHCOM to intensify efforts against drug cartels, as it seeks to disrupt their networks across critical maritime pathways. The command described its strategy as applying “total systemic friction on the cartels,” indicating an escalation in military operations aimed at curbing illegal drug activities.

Footage of the operation captured a bright flash at the moment of the kinetic strike, underscoring the decisive nature of the attack.

With this recent strike, the number of individuals killed in the ongoing Operation Southern Spear, a campaign focused on dismantling drug trafficking by sea, has now reached approximately 163.

The campaign began in the Caribbean Sea on Sept. 2, and expanded into the eastern Pacific Ocean in October.

The U.S. military has conducted more than 45 strikes across the region since September.

The administration has faced scrutiny in recent months over the strikes, including from Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., who has raised concerns about the lack of due process and the risk of civilian casualties.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and President Donald Trump participate in a roundtable discussion on public safety at a Tennessee Air National Guard Base, Monday, in Memphis, Tenn. (Mark Schiefelbein/AP Photo)

“I look at my colleagues who say they’re pro-life, and they value God’s inspiration in life, but they don’t give a s— about these people in the boats,” Paul said in January.

 “Are they terrible people in the boats? I don’t know. They’re probably poor people in Venezuela and Colombia,” he said.

President Donald Trump has said the United States is in “armed conflict” with Latin American cartels and has defended the strikes as a necessary step to curb drug trafficking, serve national security and save lives.

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.