{"id":2528191,"date":"2026-01-01T20:52:01","date_gmt":"2026-01-02T01:52:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/happy-new-year-pentagon-ends-2025-with-a-bang-hits-narco-terrorists-whose-drugs-will-not-kill-americans-this-year\/"},"modified":"2026-01-01T20:55:50","modified_gmt":"2026-01-02T01:55:50","slug":"happy-new-year-pentagon-ends-2025-with-a-bang-hits-narco-terrorists-whose-drugs-will-not-kill-americans-this-year","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/happy-new-year-pentagon-ends-2025-with-a-bang-hits-narco-terrorists-whose-drugs-will-not-kill-americans-this-year\/","title":{"rendered":"Happy New Year: Pentagon Ends 2025 with a Bang, Hits Narco-Terrorists Whose Drugs Will Not Kill Americans This Year"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">38<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fhappy-new-year-pentagon-ends-2025-with-a-bang-hits-narco-terrorists-whose-drugs-will-not-kill-americans-this-year%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2528191&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The article reports that, as early September, the Trump administration has ordered U.S. forces to strike drug-smuggling vessels in the caribbean and Pacific to stop deadly narcotics from reaching the United States amid a long-running overdose crisis. U.S. Southern Command said Joint Task Force Southern Spear carried out multiple &#8220;kinetic&#8221; strikes on Dec. 30-31 against vessels tied to designated terrorist organizations that were transiting known narco\u2011trafficking routes and transferring drugs; those engagements killed several suspected traffickers and resulted in ships being sunk. Southern Command and Pentagon officials framed the operations as lawful, conducted to protect the homeland and U.S. national interests, and said they coordinated search-and-rescue notifications wiht the U.S. Coast Guard. Media tallies cited in the piece put the campaign&#8217;s toll at dozens of strikes and more than 100 fatalities to date.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<section> \t\t\t\t<script>console.log(\"ad slot (AC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC2)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC3)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC4)\")<\/script><\/p>\n<p>The old year went out with a bang for American forces waging war on drug shipments that could target Americans.<\/p>\n<p>Since early September, the Trump administration has attacked drug-running ships in the Caribbean Sea and Pacific Ocean, coming at a time when an <a href=\"https:\/\/drugabusestatistics.org\/drug-overdose-deaths\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">estimated<\/a> 1.25 million Americans have died from drug overdoses since 1999.<\/p>\n<p>As noted by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2025\/12\/11\/nx-s1-5639205\/drug-cartels-will-shrug-off-u-s-military-strikes-on-smuggling-boats\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">NPR<\/a>, White House representative Anna Kelly has said that &ldquo;any <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >boat bringing deadly poison<\/a> to our shores has the potential to kill 25,000 Americans or more.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>As the year ended, America&rsquo;s forces were vigilant, U.S. Southern Command noted.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">On Dec. 31, at the direction of <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/SecWar?\">@SecWar<\/a> Pete Hegseth, Joint Task Force Southern Spear conducted a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/trump-posts-footage-of-lethal-kinetic-strike-against-narcoterrorists-in-international-waters\/\" title=\"Trump Posts Footage of &#039;Lethal ... Strike&#039; Against Narcoterrorists in International Waters\">lethal kinetic strike<\/a> on two vessels operated by Designated Terrorist Organizations. Intelligence confirmed the vessels were transiting along known narco-trafficking routes and&hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/4AE5u4cEff\">pic.twitter.com\/4AE5u4cEff<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; U.S. Southern Command (@Southcom) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Southcom\/status\/2006531145844867143?\">January 1, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p> <script type=\"text\/javascript\"> \t\t\tif ( getCookie( \"ff_subbed\" ) ) { \t\t\t\tdocument.getElementById(\"stnvideo\").remove() \t\t\t} else { \t\t\t\tdocument.addEventListener(\"DOMContentLoaded\", function() { \t\t\t\t\tfunction loadScript(src) { \t\t\t\t\t\tconst script=document.createElement(\"script\"); \t\t\t\t\t\tscript.src=src; \t\t\t\t\t\tscript.async=true; \t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.body.appendChild(script); \t\t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\t\tfunction findPreviousParagraph(selector, x) { \t\t\t\t\t\tconst targetElement=document.querySelector(selector); \t\t\t\t\t\tif (!targetElement) { \t\t\t\t\t\t\tconsole.warn(\"Target element not found.\"); \t\t\t\t\t\t\treturn null; \t\t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\t\t\/\/ Get all <\/p>\n<p> elements in order as they appear in the document \t\t\t\t\t\tlet paragraphs=Array.from(document.querySelectorAll(\"p\"));  \t\t\t\t\t\t\/\/ Find the index of the last <\/p>\n<p> before the target element \t\t\t\t\t\tlet targetIndex=paragraphs.findIndex(p=> p.compareDocumentPosition(targetElement) & Node.DOCUMENT_POSITION_PRECEDING);  \t\t\t\t\t\tif (targetIndex===-1 || targetIndex <x) { \t\t\t\t\t\t\tconsole.warn(\"Not enough paragraphs before the target element.\"); \t\t\t\t\t\t\treturn null; \t\t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\t\treturn paragraphs[targetIndex - x]; \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\t\/\/ Set up IntersectionObserver \t\t\t\t\tfunction observeElement(element) { \t\t\t\t\t\tif (!element) return;  \t\t\t\t\t\tconst observer=new IntersectionObserver( \t\t\t\t\t\t\t(entries)=> { \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tentries.forEach(entry=> { \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tif (entry.isIntersecting) { \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tconsole.log(\"Paragraph is now visible:\", entry.target.textContent.trim()); \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tloadScript(\"https:\/\/embed.sendtonews.com\/player3\/embedcode.js?fk=s28Az7AY\"); \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tobserver.disconnect(); \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t}); \t\t\t\t\t\t\t}, \t\t\t\t\t\t\t{ threshold: 0.5 } \/\/ Adjust threshold as needed \t\t\t\t\t\t);  \t\t\t\t\t\tobserver.observe(element); \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\t\/\/ Find the 1st paragraph before #stnvideo and observe it \t\t\t\t\tlet paragraphToObserve=findPreviousParagraph(\"#stnvideo\", 2); \t\t\t\t\tobserveElement(paragraphToObserve); \t\t\t\t}); \t\t\t} \t\t<\/script> <\/p>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;On Dec. 31, at the direction of @SecWar Pete Hegseth, Joint Task Force Southern Spear conducted a lethal kinetic strike on two vessels operated by Designated Terrorist Organizations,&rdquo; U.S. Southern Command <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/Southcom\/status\/2006531145844867143\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">posted on social media platform X<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Intelligence confirmed the vessels were transiting along known narco-trafficking routes and engaged in narco-trafficking,&rdquo; the post said.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;A total of five narco-terrorists were killed during these actions &mdash; three in the first vessel and two in the second,&rdquo; the post said.<\/p>\n<p>Wednesday&rsquo;s strikes brought the two-day total to five strikes, according to Southern Command.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;On Dec. 30, at the direction of @SecWar Pete Hegseth, Joint Task Force Southern Spear conducted kinetic strikes against three narco-trafficking vessels traveling as a convoy,&rdquo; Southern Command posted <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/Southcom\/status\/2006474817076330557\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">on X<\/a>.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">On Dec. 30, at the direction of <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/SecWar?\">@SecWar<\/a> Pete Hegseth, Joint Task Force Southern Spear conducted kinetic strikes against three narco-trafficking vessels traveling as a convoy. These vessels were operated by Designated Terrorist Organizations in international waters. Intelligence&hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/NHRNIzcrFS\">pic.twitter.com\/NHRNIzcrFS<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; U.S. Southern Command (@Southcom) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Southcom\/status\/2006474817076330557?\">December 31, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;These vessels were operated by Designated Terrorist Organizations in international waters. Intelligence confirmed the vessels were transiting along known narco-trafficking routes and had transferred narcotics between the three vessels prior to the strikes,&rdquo; the post said.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Three <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/pentagon-carries-out-another-strike-on-narco-terrorists-in-caribbean\/\" title=\"Pentagon Carries Out Another Strike on Narco Terrorists in ...\">narco-terrorists aboard<\/a> the first vessel were killed in the first engagement. The remaining narco-terrorists abandoned the other two vessels, jumping overboard and distancing themselves before follow-on engagements sank their respective vessels,&rdquo; the post said.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Following the engagements, USSOUTHCOM immediately notified @USCG to activate the Search and Rescue system,&rdquo; the post said.<\/p>\n<p>According to <a href=\"https:\/\/abcnews.go.com\/International\/us-strikes-3-alleged-drug-vessels-leaves-survivors\/story?id=128819141\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">ABC News<\/a>, 34 strikes to date have killed 115 people.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Each <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/pentagon-gives-updates-on-u-s-response-to-ukraine-invasion\/\" title=\"Pentagon gives updates on U.S. response to Ukraine invasion\">strike conducted<\/a> against these designated terror organizations is taken in defense of vital U.S. national interests and to protect the homeland,&rdquo; Pentagon Press Secretary Kingsley Wilson said last month, according to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.war.gov\/News\/News-Stories\/Article\/Article\/4346303\/pentagon-provides-update-on-operation-southern-spear-reaffirms-socom-called-for\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Department of War<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Our operations in the Southcom region are lawful under both U.S. and international law, with all actions in compliance with the Law of Armed Conflict. These actions have also been approved by the best military and civilian lawyers up and down the chain of command,&rdquo; Wilson said.<\/p>\n<p>Wilson said the goal of the mission is to protect Americans.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;This department will defend our homeland. This is not a catchphrase; it&rsquo;s a commitment,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;And, as [Hegseth] said: When it comes to killing narco-terrorists, we have only just begun.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<div style=\"position: relative;\">\n<div class=\"ff-fancy-header-container\"> \t\t\t \t<\/div>\n<div class=\"entry-submit-correction inner-content\">\n<div class=\"correction-form\">\n<form style=\"display: none;\">\n<div class=\"sc-name-field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* Name<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"name\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"sc--field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* <\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<label>* Message<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t<textarea name=\"message\" required><\/textarea> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"required-message\" style=\"display: none; padding-bottom: 15px;\">* All fields are required.<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"submit\" value=\"Submit\" onclick=\"event.preventDefault(); firefly_sc();\"> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"firefly-sc-confirm\" style=\"display: none;\">Success!<\/div>\n<\/p><\/form>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> \t\t<script> \t\t\tfunction firefly_sc() { \t\t\t\tif( typeof window.captchaPublicKey==typeof undefined ){ \t\t\t\t\tconsole.error('window.captchaPublicKey is not defined'); \t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\tgrecaptcha.execute( window.captchaPublicKey, { action: 'submit_correction' } ).then( function( token ) { \t\t\t\t\tvar opts={ \t\t\t\t\t\taction:    'firefly_sc_submit', \t\t\t\t\t\tname:      document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"name\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\t:     document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tmessage:   document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"message\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tpost_id:   firefly_post_id, \t\t\t\t\t\tcap_token: token \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\tvar inputs=[ 'name', '', 'message' ];  \t\t\t\t\tfor( var i=0; i <inputs.length; i++ ) if( ! 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