The U.S. military on Monday conducted a military strike against a vessel suspected of transporting drugs in international waters in the eastern Pacific, killing two men aboard, the U.S. Southern Command said.
In a post on the social media platform X, the command said that the strike was carried out by the U.S. Joint Task Force Southern Spear at the direction of U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, targeting a vessel reportedly operated by Designated Terrorist Organizations in international waters.
Intelligence confirmed the vessel was transiting along known narco-trafficking routes in the Eastern Pacific and was engaged in narco-trafficking operations, the post said, adding that two male narco-terrorists were killed in the attack.
In recent months, the United States has increased its military presence in the Caribbean Sea near Venezuela under the stated objective of countering drug trafficking.
On November 13, Washington formally announced the launch of the military initiative "Southern Spear," aimed at increasing pressure on the Venezuelan government. To date, however, the U.S. has not publicly presented verifiable evidence linking the vessels it has targeted to drug smuggling operations.
Data from recent reports issued by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration indicates that Venezuela is not a primary source of narcotics entering the United States. Venezuelan authorities have repeatedly accused the United States of using counter-narcotics operations as a pretext for military expansion in Latin America and attempting to orchestrate a change of government in Venezuela through military intimidation.
US military conducts strike against 1 alleged drug vessel in eastern Pacific, killing 2
Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic on Monday local time reaffirmed the country's commitment to abiding by the one-China principle, saying that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China.
Vucic made the remarks during his inspection of the Chinese-built Danube Corridor fast road in eastern Serbia.
He also agreed that the Taiwan question is purely an internal affair of China.
"I have one message that is important. I said that our goal is to maintain global peace and stability. It is also important to respect the UN Charter, international law, and the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence. Serbia will continue to firmly support the People's Republic of China in safeguarding its territorial integrity. Serbia supports the one-China principle with all its political strength. Taiwan is an inalienable part of China. This is Serbia's consistent position on the Taiwan question. It was and it will remain the policy of Serbia," he said.
During the site visit to Golubac, Vucic spoke with Chinese and Serbian workers on the Danube Corridor expressway, highlighting cooperation between the two countries.
Vucic said the road would significantly improve connectivity along the Danube and support economic development in eastern Serbia. He expressed satisfaction with the quality of construction and confidence in the Chinese builders.
Alongside the president are Li Ming, Chinese ambassador to Serbia; Aleksandra Sofronijevic, minister of construction, transport and infrastructure; Aleksandar Antic, director of state-run company Koridori Srbije; Zoran Drobnjak, acting director of Roads of Serbia; as well as local officials and municipal leaders.
Ambassador Li said that the project has a "far-reaching" effect on Serbia's development. It is "the crystallization of the wisdom of the people and enterprises of both countries," he said.
The 68-km Danube Corridor links the Branicevo district in eastern Serbia with the capital of Belgrade and the international E75 highway. Serbia opened 31.85 km of the route to traffic in February 2025, with work continuing on the remaining sections.
Serbian president reaffirms commitment to one-China principle during inspection of Chinese-built Danube Corridor
