STORY: The U.S. military said on Thursday (December 18) it carried out strikes on two vessels suspected of smuggling drugs in the Eastern Pacific.

The U.S. Southern Command released black-and-white surveillance footage said to show what officials described as "lethal kinetic strikes" on the vessels, with explosions and smoke seen after they were hit.

Five men were killed, according to the post. No U.S. forces were harmed in the operation, which took place in international waters, the statement added.

Southern Command said the strikes were ordered by Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and carried out by Joint Task Force Southern Spear. The statement said the vessels were operated by designated terrorist organizations and were engaged in narco-trafficking along known routes.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

VIDEO SHOWS: FOOTAGE OF REPORTED STRIKES / SOCIAL MEDIA POST ON REPORTED STRIKES

RESENDING WITH COMPLETE SCRIPT

SHOWS: GIVEN AS EASTERN PACIFIC (RELEASED DECEMBER 18, 2025) (U.S. SOUTHERN COMMAND - Access all) (MUTE)

1. VARIOUS BLACK-AND-WHITE SURVEILLANCE FOOTAGE OF REPORTED STRIKES ON VESSELS

INTERNET (DECEMBER 18, 2025) (SOCIAL MEDIA WEBSITE - Access all) (MUTE)

2. SCREENSHOT OF POST ON SOCIAL MEDIA WEBSITE 'X', READING (English): "On Dec. 18, at the direction of @SecWar Pete Hegseth, Joint Task Force Southern Spear conducted lethal kinetic strikes on two vessels operated by Designated Terrorist Organizations in international waters. Intelligence confirmed that the vessels were transiting along known narco-trafficking routes in the Eastern Pacific and were engaged in narco-trafficking operations. A total of five male narco-terrorists were killed during these actions - three in the first vessel and two in the second vessel. No U.S. military forces were harmed. #OpSouthernSpear"