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First Attack in Weeks Targets Alleged Drug Smuggling Vessel
The United States military has resumed its controversial campaign against suspected drug trafficking vessels, conducting its first attack in weeks on an alleged smuggling boat in the eastern Pacific Ocean. The strike, ordered by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, resulted in two fatalities with one survivor, according to U.S. Southern Command.
The military shared footage of the January 23 attack on social media platform X, showing a motorboat being destroyed in international waters. 'This operation demonstrates our continued commitment to disrupting transnational criminal networks that threaten American security,' a Southern Command spokesperson stated.
Controversial Campaign Under Scrutiny
The attack marks the resumption of Operation Southern Spear, a military campaign that has drawn significant international criticism since its inception in September 2025. According to Wikipedia documentation, at least 117 people have been killed in 36 strikes on 37 vessels as of January 2026.
Human rights organizations and international bodies have condemned the operations. UN human rights chief Volker Türk has called the strikes 'unacceptable' and demanded an immediate halt, stating they violate international human rights law and constitute extrajudicial killings.
Operation Southern Spear's Evolution
Operation Southern Spear began as a U.S. Navy initiative in January 2025 focused on integrating robotic and autonomous systems to monitor illegal activity. According to PBS reporting, the campaign expanded dramatically in September 2025 when the Trump administration began conducting lethal strikes against vessels allegedly involved in drug trafficking.
The operation has been described by analysts as a hybridization of the war on terror and the war on drugs. Some experts suggest that removal of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro from power was an objective of the operation, which culminated in his capture by U.S. forces on January 3, 2026.
Legal and Ethical Questions
The latest attack raises ongoing legal questions about the authority for such strikes. Just Security analysis examines how these operations deviate from normal maritime law enforcement practices and potentially violate both domestic criminal laws prohibiting murder and international human rights law.
'These strikes represent a dangerous expansion of presidential authority to use lethal force without proper legal foundation,' said a human rights lawyer familiar with the cases.
The U.S. Coast Guard has been activated to search for the survivor from the latest attack, continuing a pattern where few survive these strikes. According to Newsweek reporting, only two survivors have been repatriated from all strikes conducted since September 2025.
Political Context and Future Implications
The resumption of attacks comes amid ongoing political debates about U.S. drug policy and military intervention in Latin America. Democratic lawmakers have questioned whether some strikes constitute potential war crimes, particularly following a 'double-tap' strike in September where survivors were killed in a second attack.
As the U.S. continues this controversial campaign, international observers warn about the precedent being set for extrajudicial killings and the erosion of international legal norms governing the use of force against suspected criminals rather than combatants in armed conflict.
