Five people killed in US military strike on trafficking boats on New Year’s Eve

Five people were killed in a Dec. 31 U.S. military kinetic strike against two ships operated by designated terrorist organizations involved in drug traffickingU.S. Southern Command said Wednesday.

Intelligence confirmed that the vessels were transiting known drug trafficking routes and engaging in illegal drug trafficking activities. drug trafficking activities at the time of the operation, officials said.

A total of five individuals described as narcoterrorists were killed in the actions, officials said, including three aboard the first ship and two aboard the second.

US MILITARY DESTROYS THREE-SHIP NARCO-TERRORIST CONVOY AT SEA IN KINETIC STRIKES

USSOUTHCOM announced another kinetic strike against suspected narco-terrorist vessels on Wednesday, December 31. (@Southcom via X)

The War Department identified the operation as part of Operation Southern Spear.

Video released as part of the operation shows a collision with a ship at sea. Military officials did not say whether additional engagements took place beyond those shown in the unclassified video.

Another strike was announced earlier today, but it is not yet clear whether the two are related.

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The video shows a kinetic strike against a narcoterrorist vessel in international waters starting Wednesday, December 31. (US Southern Command via X)

U.S. Southern Command has provided no further comment to Fox News Digital at this time.