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Senior U.S. national security officials announced on Wednesday that military actions against drug cartels will persist, indicating an ongoing military effort in Latin America, despite lingering uncertainties about a recent deadly attack on a vessel originating from Venezuela.
Last Tuesday, the U.S. military conducted a strike that resulted in 11 casualties aboard a Venezuelan vessel suspected of smuggling drugs, marking the first such operation following President Donald Trump’s recent dispatch of warships to the southern Caribbean. Details surrounding the strike, including the legal basis for the action and the contents of the vessel’s cargo, remain largely undisclosed. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated that military operations will continue, emphasizing the gravity of their mission.
“We have aircraft in the sky, ships on the water, and assets deployed at sea because this is a serious mission for us. It won’t end with just this one strike,” Hegseth told FOX & Friends. He also warned that anyone involved in drug trafficking in those waters deemed as terrorists would face similar consequences. He avoided specifics about how the operation was executed, citing classified information, leaving open the question of whether a drone, torpedo, or other method was used to destroy the vessel.
Meanwhile, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, speaking from Mexico City, indicated that similar strikes might occur again, asserting that President Trump intends to escalate efforts against narcoterrorist groups. Trump, without offering evidence, claimed on Tuesday that the vessel’s crew included members linked to the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua, designated a terrorist organization by Washington in February. Trump also said that large quantities of drugs were discovered on the boat, showing purported footage of the confiscated narcotics.
The Pentagon has not clarified the identities of those on board nor justified the lethal approach. Historically, U.S. presidents from both major parties have claimed the authority to conduct limited military strikes in the face of threats, as Trump did in June with an attack on Iran. Rubio justified the strike, arguing that the vessel represented an immediate threat due to the presence of illegal substances like cocaine or fentanyl, and that Trump had the right to take action under urgent circumstances.
International law experts, such as Notre Dame’s Mary Ellen O’Connell, criticized the operation, arguing it breached core principles of international law. She pointed out that the attack on the high seas was unlawful and that the U.S. lacked the right to intentionally kill those aboard the vessel.
The decision to destroy the vessel outright, rather than intercept and arrest its crew, is unusual and reminiscent of counter-terrorism tactics. In recent weeks, the U.S. has deployed several warships and a nuclear-fast attack submarine to the Caribbean, with over 4,500 sailors and Marines participating in training and operations, including from the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit based in Puerto Rico.
Responding to Venezuela’s close ties with China, Hegseth criticized President Nicolás Maduro, labeling him as the chief figure of a drug-running regime. The Trump administration has increased bounties for information on Maduro, now offering up to $50 million, citing his alleged links to drug trafficking and organized crime. Venezuela’s government maintains that the military buildup is an excuse for U.S. intervention, accusing Washington of seeking regime change.
Opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, despite being barred from running for president in 2024, expressed support for the U.S. strike, claiming it as a move to protect lives in both Venezuela and the United States. She described Maduro as a narco-terrorist whose actions have destabilized the region.
Venezuelan authorities, noting that the Tren de Aragua network was dismantled during a prison raid last year and no longer active, suggested that Trump’s video showing a speedboat exploding at sea was likely manipulated with artificial intelligence, although initial forensic checks indicated no obvious signs of tampering.
Skepticism from some opposition figures raised questions about the accuracy of the details provided, such as the exact number of casualties and the nationality of those killed. Henrique Capriles, a former presidential hopeful, expressed doubts about how U.S. authorities identified the victims and their nationality, questioning the validity of Trump’s shared footage.
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