URGENT UPDATE: In a significant military operation, the US has confirmed the deaths of four individuals in a strike on a boat off the coast of Venezuela that was allegedly transporting illegal drugs. This strike, executed on the orders of President Donald Trump, was detailed by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in a post on X, declaring the victims as “four male narco-terrorists.”
The operation took place in international waters and was part of a broader campaign against drug trafficking aimed at curbing the flow of narcotics into the United States. Hegseth stated that the boat was carrying a “substantial amount of narcotics” en route to the US, emphasizing that further military actions will follow as long as drugs continue to threaten American communities.
This incident marks the fourth deadly strike in a series of military operations targeting boats in the Caribbean linked to drug trafficking. The cumulative toll from these operations has now risen to 21 fatalities since September, when previous strikes resulted in the deaths of 17 individuals.
Critics have raised serious concerns over these operations, questioning the legal basis for such actions, which they argue could amount to extrajudicial killings in international waters. Reports indicate that the administration views the conflict with drug cartels as a “non-national armed conflict,” further complicating the legal landscape.
According to sources from US media outlets like The New York Times and ABC News, a confidential memo has circulated among congressional committees outlining the White House’s rationale, classifying drug cartels and their associates as “unlawful combatants.”
With this latest strike, the US government demonstrates its escalating commitment to combatting drug trafficking, but the international community watches closely as concerns grow regarding the implications of such military actions.
As this situation develops, the focus will remain on the US’s next moves and the potential for increased military engagement in the region. Stay tuned for further updates on this evolving story.
