The United States on Wednesday (Dec 17) announced that its forces had carried out another strike at a 'narco-trafficking' vessel. In a statement, the US military said that the latest Operation Southern Spear strike has killed 4 people. This comes just a day after US President Donald Trump on Tuesday (Dec 16) dramatically escalated his pressure campaign against Venezuela, announcing what he called a "total and complete blockade" of sanctioned oil tankers entering or leaving the country. In recent weeks, US forces have carried out strikes on alleged drug-smuggling boats in the region, operations that have killed nearly 90 people. Last week, American forces also seized a large oil tanker off Venezuela’s coast, claiming it was transporting black-market oil in violation of US sanctions. Washington later announced fresh sanctions on additional vessels tied to the trade.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-turns-up-heat-on-venezuela-with-total-and-complete-blockade-of-oil-tankers-1765933286118">Trump turns up heat on Venezuela with ‘total and complete blockade’ of oil tankers</a><h2>At Pete Hegseth's instructions</h2>In a post on X, US Southern Command said, “On Dec. 17, at the direction of @SecWar Pete Hegseth, Joint Task Force Southern Spear conducted a lethal kinetic strike on a vessel operated by a Designated Terrorist Organisation in international waters.” It claimed that intelligence confirmed that the “vessel was transiting along a known narco-trafficking route in the Eastern Pacific and was engaged in narco-trafficking operations. A total of four male narco-terrorists were killed, and no U.S. military forces were harmed.”&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/delhi-shuts-doors-on-older-cars-is-your-vehicle-banned-in-delhi-new-bs-vi-rule-explained-1765943212616">Delhi shuts doors on older cars: Is your vehicle banned in Delhi? New BS VI rule EXPLAINED</a>It also posted a video which shows billowing smoke after the vessel was hit. Watch it here:

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark" data-dnt="true" align="center">On Dec. 17, at the direction of <a href="https://twitter.com/SecWar?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SecWar</a> Pete Hegseth, Joint Task Force Southern Spear conducted a lethal kinetic strike on a vessel operated by a Designated Terrorist Organizations in international waters. Intelligence confirmed that the vessel was transiting along a known… <a href="https://t.co/Yhu3LSOyea">pic.twitter.com/Yhu3LSOyea</a>&mdash; U.S. Southern Command (@Southcom) <a href="https://twitter.com/Southcom/status/2001464448750621120?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 18, 2025</a></blockquote>
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US forces carried out another strike on a suspected narco-trafficking boat, killing four people, the military said. The attack comes days after Trump ordered a “total blockade” of Venezuelan oil tankers, as US strikes in the region continue.

The United States on Wednesday (Dec 17) announced that its forces had carried out another strike at a 'narco-trafficking' vessel. In a statement, the US military said that the latest Operation Southern Spear strike has killed 4 people. This comes just a day after US President Donald Trump on Tuesday (Dec 16) dramatically escalated his pressure campaign against Venezuela, announcing what he called a "total and complete blockade" of sanctioned oil tankers entering or leaving the country. In recent weeks, US forces have carried out strikes on alleged drug-smuggling boats in the region, operations that have killed nearly 90 people. Last week, American forces also seized a large oil tanker off Venezuela’s coast, claiming it was transporting black-market oil in violation of US sanctions. Washington later announced fresh sanctions on additional vessels tied to the trade. Also read | Trump turns up heat on Venezuela with ‘total and complete blockade’ of oil tankers At Pete Hegseth's instructions In a post on X, US Southern Command said, “On Dec. 17, at the direction of @SecWar Pete Hegseth, Joint Task Force Southern Spear conducted a lethal kinetic strike on a vessel operated by a Designated Terrorist Organisation in international waters.” It claimed that intelligence confirmed that the “vessel was transiting along a known narco-trafficking route in the Eastern Pacific and was engaged in narco-trafficking operations. A total of four male narco-terrorists were killed, and no U.S. military forces were harmed.” Also read | Delhi shuts doors on older cars: Is your vehicle banned in Delhi? New BS VI rule EXPLAINED It also posted a video which shows billowing smoke after the vessel was hit. Watch it here:

US forces carried out another strike on a suspected narco-trafficking boat, killing four people, the military said. The attack comes days after Trump ordered a “total blockade” of Venezuelan oil tankers, as US strikes in the region continue.

US strikes another ‘narco-trafficking’ boat, kills 4 day after Trump’s Venezuela blockade. Watch

The US Southern Command said on Monday (Dec 15) that it carried out strikes on three vessels in international waters, killing eight men. It said that the operation was carried out on narco-trafficking routes in the Eastern Pacific. In his war against drug cartels, the United States struck more than 20 vessels in the Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea near Venezuela. At least 90 suspected drug smugglers have been killed in the process. Despite criticism, the Trump administration, including the US president, have defended the legality of the strikes. The strikes are also seen as the precursor to US land strikes on Venezuela that Trump has said will soon start.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">On Dec. 15, at the direction of <a href="https://twitter.com/SecWar?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SecWar</a> Pete Hegseth, Joint Task Force Southern Spear conducted lethal kinetic strikes on three vessels operated by Designated Terrorist Organizations in international waters. Intelligence confirmed that the vessels were transiting along known… <a href="https://t.co/IQfCVvUpau">pic.twitter.com/IQfCVvUpau</a>&mdash; U.S. Southern Command (@Southcom) <a href="https://twitter.com/Southcom/status/2000756230252314901?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 16, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/from-fake-news-to-fog-of-war-trump-admin-faces-backlash-over-hegseth-s-second-strike-on-drug-boats-1764730320331">Trump faces backlash even as Hegseth backs second strike on drug-boats: Will be testify before Congress?</a>&nbsp;"Intelligence confirmed that the vessels were transiting along known narco-trafficking routes in the Eastern Pacific and were engaged in narco-trafficking," the military said in a post on X. "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," Pentagon Press Secretary Kingsley Wilson told reporters earlier this month.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/did-hegseth-order-killing-of-drug-boat-survivors-amid-venezuela-conflict-trump-breaks-silence-1764564406451">Did Hegseth order killing of drug-boat survivors amid Venezuela conflict? Trump breaks silence</a>&nbsp;The Trump administration continues with the boat strikes even as it is dealing with a massive controversy over killing of boat survivors by conducting second strike, earlier in September. Calls have been made for Hegseth to testify under oath about the second strike. While he called initial reports about the second strike “fake”, the White House, later, named Admiral Frank Bradley as the person who authorised the second strike. Legal experts, including Senator Tim Kaine, have suggested that firing on shipwrecked or incapacitated survivors could constitute a war crime. Lawmakers from both parties are demanding the release of unedited video footage of the September 2 attack.

US Southern Command struck three suspected drug-smuggling vessels in international waters, killing eight men. As part of Trump’s anti-cartel campaign, over 90 suspects have died. Despite backlash and war crime concerns, the administration defends the strikes as lawful.

The US Southern Command said on Monday (Dec 15) that it carried out strikes on three vessels in international waters, killing eight men. It said that the operation was carried out on narco-trafficking routes in the Eastern Pacific. In his war against drug cartels, the United States struck more than 20 vessels in the Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea near Venezuela. At least 90 suspected drug smugglers have been killed in the process. Despite criticism, the Trump administration, including the US president, have defended the legality of the strikes. The strikes are also seen as the precursor to US land strikes on Venezuela that Trump has said will soon start.

US Southern Command struck three suspected drug-smuggling vessels in international waters, killing eight men. As part of Trump’s anti-cartel campaign, over 90 suspects have died. Despite backlash and war crime concerns, the administration defends the strikes as lawful.

US conducts another boat strike in Pacific on Hegseth's order, kills 8 'male narco-terrorists'

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US strikes another ‘narco-trafficking’ boat, kills 4 day after Trump’s Venezuela blockade. Watch

US conducts another boat strike in Pacific on Hegseth's order, kills 8