Hegseth reports that 4 died in the recent attack on a drug trafficking boat.

US Forces Target Drug Traffickers Off Venezuela’s Coast

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced that US forces eliminated four “narcoterrorists” aboard a boat allegedly carrying drugs near Venezuela on Friday morning.

Hegseth described the operation as a “kinetic” strike aimed at a vessel associated with a designated terrorist organization under the purview of US Southern Command.

Fortunately, no US personnel were reported injured during this operation.

“The strike occurred in international waters off the coast of Venezuela, where the ship was transporting a substantial quantity of drugs destined for the US,” Hegseth stated in a social media post.

He also shared a brief video showcasing the striking moment, capturing the explosion and flames engulfing the vessel.

“Our intelligence has confirmed that this ship was engaged in drug trafficking. We will continue these strikes until the assaults on Americans cease!” Hegseth remarked.

This recent action follows President Trump’s announcement on Thursday, declaring that the US is essentially at war with specific drug cartels that have been labeled as terrorist organizations by his administration. He also outlined legal grounds for preemptive strikes against vessels in the Caribbean last month.

In communications circulated among various National Security Council committees, Trump stated that the US is engaged in “a non-international armed conflict with these designated terrorist organizations.”

The administration conveyed in a notice to lawmakers, “The president has directed the War Ministry to execute operations against them in accordance with the laws of armed conflict.” They further emphasized that the US must now mobilize its strength for self-defense against ongoing threats posed by these entities.

So far, the military has conducted at least three operations targeting vessels accused of trafficking drugs to the US, resulting in a total of 17 fatalities among the crew. At least two of those ships originated from Venezuela. However, the administration has not provided the names of the cartel groups labeled as terrorists in its notifications to Congress.

According to the administration, “These groups are directly responsible for the deaths of tens of thousands of American citizens annually. They are actively behaving as organized cartels across the Western Hemisphere.” The notice concluded by outlining the president’s determination to classify these cartels as non-state armed groups carrying out armed attacks on the US.