The War Department’s inspector general announced a review of whether the U.S. military’s strikes against suspected drug smugglers in the Caribbean followed the required targeting process.
Last September, the Pentagon began what it dubbed Operation Southern Spear, and since its origin, U.S. Southern Command has targeted nearly 60 small boats in the Caribbean Sea or eastern Pacific Ocean that it says were attempting to smuggle drugs into the country, killing nearly 200 people in those strikes.
Recommended Stories
Specifically, the objective of the review is “to determine whether DoW components followed the established framework of the six-phase Joint Targeting Cycle,” according to a May 11 letter from Bryan T. Clark, assistant inspector general for evaluations programs, combatant commands and operations in a May 11 memo to Gen. Francis Donovan, the leader of U.S. Southern Command, and Bradley Hansell, undersecretary for intelligence and security.
The six phases are the commander’s intent, the development of each target, the analysis and intelligence surrounding each one, the decision to hit it, planning and execution, and assessment, NBC News reported, citing a U.S. official.
This evaluation was self-initiated and not done at the request of Congress.
“The scope of this evaluation includes the joint process for targeted vessels in the U.S. Southern Command area of responsibility as part of Operation Southern Spear,” a spokesperson told the Washington Examiner. “This project was self-initiated based on the DoW OIG’s ongoing assessment of DoW programs and operations.”
The department repeatedly affirmed the legality of the strikes despite bipartisan concern on Capitol Hill. In particular, the first operation on Sept. 2, 2025, garnered a lot of scrutiny when it became clear that the U.S. troops realized the initial strike did not kill everyone on board and then fired again at the vessel to ensure the remaining survivor was killed.
In later instances, Southern Command notified the U.S. Coast Guard of possible survivors to launch search-and-rescue operations. One strike had two survivors, who were later rescued, treated, and ultimately repatriated to their home countries of Ecuador and Colombia.
PENTAGON ASKED ADMIRAL IN CHARGE OF BOAT STRIKES OPERATION TO RETIRE
The most recent strike on a suspected drug boat occurred on May 8, according to U.S. Southern Command, which noted that two people on board were killed, while the Coast Guard activated its search and rescue system for one survivor.
Shortly after the U.S. military began this campaign, War Secretary Pete Hegseth asked Adm. Alvin Holsey, then the commander of U.S. Southern Command, to retire before the end of his tenure. Donovan succeeded him in the position.
