Pentagon Provides Update on Operation Southern Spear, Reaffirms Socom Called for Second Strike on Drug Boat

Dec. 2, 2025 | By Matthew Olay, Pentagon News |

The War Department provided an update today on the U.S. military’s counter-narco-terrorism campaign, Operation Southern Spear, including the casualties inflicted upon suspected narco-terrorists and a reemphasis on how the operation’s first kinetic boat strike unfolded.

To date, a total of 21 kinetic strikes in U.S. Southern Command’s area of operations have taken place, resulting in 82 narco-terrorists having been killed, Pentagon Press Secretary Kingsley Wilson told the media.

“Each strike conducted against these designated terror organizations is taken in defense of vital U.S. national interests and to protect the homeland,” Wilson said.

 She added that the legality of the strikes has been thoroughly vetted by the proper authorities. 

“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. These actions have also been approved by the best military and civilian lawyers up and down the chain of command,” Wilson said. 

Along the lines of legality, Wilson also underscored White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt’s statement yesterday that a “double tap” strike on an alleged Venezuelan narco-terrorism boat on Sept. 2 was ordered by U.S. Special Operations Command’s top leader, Navy Adm. Frank “Mitch” Bradley, and not Secretary of War Pete Hegseth.

A recent article published late last week claiming that Hegseth ordered the second strike has been a source of contention between President Donald J. Trump’s administration, some members of Congress and the media.    

“As the White House confirmed yesterday, the decision to restrike the narco-terrorists’ vessel was made by Adm. Bradley, operating under clear and long-standing authorities to ensure the boat was destroyed and the threat to the United States was eliminated,” Wilson told the media.  

“Let’s make one thing crystal clear: Adm. Mitch Bradley is an American hero, a true professional, and [he] has my 100% support,” Hegseth said via a social media post yesterday.  

“I stand by him and the combat decisions he has made — on the September 2 mission and all others since. America is fortunate to have such men protecting us,” he added.

Wilson ended the Operation Southern Spear portion of her briefing by reemphasizing the War Department’s commitment to protecting the American people. 

“This department will defend our homeland. This is not a catchphrase; it’s a commitment,” she said. “And, as [Hegseth] said: When it comes to killing narco-terrorists, we have only just begun.”