Archive · 23 Dec 2025
US Strikes Kill 105 in Drug Campaign
The U.S. military has been conducting strikes on boats suspected of drug trafficking in the Caribbean Sea and Eastern Pacific Ocean.
These strikes started in September 2023 and have continued until December 2023, with a total of 29 strikes resulting in at least 105 deaths.
The U.S. government says these strikes are necessary to stop drugs from entering the country and to put pressure on the Venezuelan government, which they accuse of being involved in drug trafficking.
However, many lawmakers and human rights groups are concerned about the legality of these strikes and the lack of evidence being made public.
They also worry that these strikes might be extrajudicial killings.
Venezuela denies the accusations and says the U.S. actions are aggressive and amount to piracy.
The U.S. has significantly increased its military presence in the region, including ships and aircraft, as part of this campaign.
The U.S. military has conducted 29 lethal strikes on suspected drug trafficking vessels since September 2023, resulting in at least 105 deaths.
The latest strike on December 22, 2023, killed one person and was part of a broader campaign called 'Operation Southern Spear'.
The U.S. claims the vessels were involved in drug trafficking and were operated by designated terrorist organizations, but no public evidence has been released.
Lawmakers and human rights groups have raised concerns about the legality of the strikes and the lack of transparency, with some calling for an investigation.
Venezuela has denied the U.S. accusations, stating that the actions are aggressive and constitute piracy, and has mobilized its military in response.
- Who
- U.S. military (Joint Task Force Southern Spear) and the Trump administration
- What
- Lethal kinetic strikes on suspected drug trafficking vessels
- When
- From early September 2023 to December 2023
- Where
- Caribbean Sea and Eastern Pacific Ocean
- Why
- To halt the flow of narcotics into the United States and pressure Nicolás Maduro's government, which the U.S. claims is complicit in drug trafficking.
Trump Administration
Critics and Human Rights Groups
Legality of Strikes
Trump Administration
The strikes are justified as part of an armed conflict with drug cartels and are necessary to halt drug trafficking.
Critics and Human Rights Groups
The strikes lack legal justification and amount to extrajudicial killings, requiring an investigation.
Evidence and Transparency
Trump Administration
Intelligence confirms the vessels are involved in drug trafficking, though no public evidence has been released.
Critics and Human Rights Groups
The lack of publicly released evidence and the classified footage of follow-on attacks raise serious concerns.
Venezuelan Involvement
Trump Administration
The Venezuelan government is complicit in drug trafficking and supports narco-terror networks.
Critics and Human Rights Groups
Venezuela denies the accusations, stating the US actions are aimed at regime change and constitute aggression and piracy.
- Date Range
- September 2023 - December 2023
- Location
- Caribbean Sea and Eastern Pacific Ocean
- Total Strikes
- 29
- Total Deaths
- 105
- US Military Presence
- 12,000 troops across nearly a dozen ships
- Operation Name
- Operation Southern Spear
- Key Figures
- Donald Trump, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth
- Critics
- Lawmakers, Human Rights Groups, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights
