“On March 8, at the direction of the Commander of U.S. Southern Command, Marine Gen. Francis L. Donovan, Joint Task Force Southern Spear conducted a lethal kinetic strike on a vessel operated by Designated Terrorist Organizations,” read the release. 

“Intelligence confirmed the vessel was transiting along known narco-trafficking routes in the Eastern Pacific and was engaged in narco-trafficking operations,” noted the statement. “Six male narco-terrorists were killed during this action. No U.S. military forces were harmed.”

Operation Southern Spear began on Sept. 2, 2025, as an initiative of the Trump administration to “disrupt illicit drug trafficking and protect the Homeland.”

With the most recent strike on Sunday, there have been over 40 known military operations on suspected drug-trafficking vessels, with at least 157 known alleged narco-terrorists killed. Strikes from the operation have occurred in the Eastern Pacific Ocean off the coast of South America and in the Caribbean Sea. 

“Operation Southern Spear is a Department of War mission to enhance security and stability across the Western Hemisphere by detecting, disrupting, and degrading transnational criminal and illicit maritime networks,” reads the U.S. Navy website. “This operation enhances maritime domain awareness, supports regional stability, and helps prevent illicit activity from reaching the U.S. Homeland. These efforts reflect the Department’s commitment to maintaining a safe, stable, and secure hemisphere.”

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The latest strike comes after Trump’s “Shield of the Americas” summit on Saturday at Trump National Doral Miami golf club. He met with leaders from Central and South American countries: Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guyana, Honduras, Panama, Paraguay, and Trinidad and Tobago. During the meeting, Trump encouraged the other nations to join his efforts against drug-trafficking cartels that endanger security in the Western Hemisphere.

“The only way to defeat these enemies is by unleashing the power of our militaries,” said Trump. “We have to use our military. You have to use your military.”