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The United States announced a military strike off the coast of Venezuela, claiming to have killed four individuals allegedly involved in drug trafficking. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth confirmed the operation on Friday, noting that all victims were male. He claimed the vessel was transporting significant quantities of narcotics destined for the U.S., although no evidence was provided to support this assertion. Hegseth also alleged without proof that the vessel’s cargo was destined for American markets to “poison our people” and that the individuals on board were “narco-terrorists.”
He stated that the strike occurred in international waters and shared a brief video showing a vessel navigating the water before being hit by a barrage of projectiles, resulting in an explosion. Hegseth emphasized that such strikes will persist until attacks on Americans cease.
The Venezuelan government has yet to respond to inquiries. This incident marks at least the fourth recent attack in the southern Caribbean, part of an intensifying U.S. effort to target drug trafficking activities through military measures, which critics argue may be legally questionable. Historically, counter-drug operations relied primarily on the Coast Guard, but the Pentagon recently notified Congress that President Trump considers these operations to be part of a “non-international armed conflict” with drug cartels, expanding legal justifications for military action.
Legal experts suggest that such justifications for using force at sea do not align fully with the law of war requirements. Additionally, the Trump administration is contemplating land-based attacks on drug networks, raising further legal issues.
A significant U.S. military presence is now active in the region, with F-35 fighters in Puerto Rico, eight warships, thousands of sailors and Marines, and a nuclear submarine. Despite the escalation, details regarding the previous strikes, including identities and cargo specifics, remain largely undisclosed.
Venezuela’s leader, Nicolás Maduro, has accused the U.S. of attempting to oust him from power. In August, Washington doubled its reward to $50 million for information leading to Maduro’s arrest, citing alleged ties to drug trafficking and organized crime—charges Maduro denies.
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