The United States carried out a deadly military strike on a vessel suspected of transporting illegal drugs near the coast of Venezuela, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Friday. Four men were killed in the operation, the fourth such strike in recent weeks, as President Donald Trump intensifies the use of military force against drug cartels in the Caribbean.
Hegseth said the attack took place in international waters and targeted a vessel “transporting substantial amounts of narcotics — headed to America to poison our people.” He shared a nearly 40-second video showing a boat moving through the water before being hit by a barrage of projectiles that caused a massive explosion.
“These strikes will continue until the attacks on the American people are over!!!!” Hegseth wrote in a post on X, formerly Twitter.
Neither Hegseth nor Trump provided evidence to support their claims that the vessel carried drugs. Hegseth said intelligence “without a doubt” confirmed that those aboard were “narco-terrorists,” though he did not disclose the quantity or type of narcotics allegedly found. Trump asserted that the boat carried enough drugs to kill between 25,000 and 50,000 people.
The Venezuelan communications ministry did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Traditionally, maritime counter-drug operations have been conducted by the U.S. Coast Guard, the nation’s primary maritime law enforcement agency. The use of the U.S. military for such missions marks a significant shift in strategy.
Earlier this week, the Pentagon notified Congress that Trump has determined the United States is engaged in a “non-international armed conflict” with drug cartels. The confidential legal rationale, reviewed by Reuters, seeks to justify using military force in the Caribbean against trafficking organizations designated as terrorist groups by the administration.
Legal experts, including former military lawyers, have questioned whether the administration’s justifications meet international law standards. They argue that targeting suspected drug traffickers with military force at sea, rather than apprehending them, may violate the laws of war.
The strikes come amid a major U.S. military buildup in the southern Caribbean. The Pentagon has deployed F-35 fighter jets to Puerto Rico, eight U.S. warships carrying thousands of sailors and marines, and one nuclear-powered submarine to the region.
The Trump administration has released few details about previous strikes, including the identities of those killed or specifics of the narcotics cargo. It has also signaled potential future actions against cartels operating over land, raising further legal and diplomatic questions.
Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has repeatedly accused Washington of trying to overthrow him and denies any involvement in drug trafficking. In August, the U.S. government doubled its reward for information leading to Maduro’s arrest to $50 million, alleging ties to drug networks and criminal groups — allegations he has rejected.
The strike near Venezuela underscores Trump’s aggressive approach to what his administration has framed as an “armed conflict” against drug cartels. It also reflects the widening scope of U.S. military operations beyond traditional counter-narcotics measures, testing both domestic legal boundaries and international norms.
Reuters
