According to US Defense Secretary the Pentagon's top official, American forces eliminated four people during a mission targeting a boat allegedly carrying narcotics in international waters close to Venezuela.
The strike occurred shortly after US officials informed Congress regarding the US was entering a "non-international armed conflict" with drug cartels.
This marks no fewer than the fourth such extraordinary and disputed operation conducted by American military outside US territorial waters in recent weeks.
Details of the Military Operation
The defense secretary stated that the vessel was targeted as it was transporting substantial amounts of illegal drugs destined for the United States, posing a threat to public health.
“Intelligence assessments definitively verified the vessel’s involvement in drug trafficking, identifying those aboard as narco-terrorists using established smuggling routes,” he declared via an online statement.
The defense secretary also claimed that the vessel had links to terrorist groups, a label applied through a private document to Congress.
Legal and Governmental Context
US officials has informed Congress that it considers drug trafficking organizations as “non-state armed groups” and their actions smuggling drugs “constitute an armed attack” against the United States.
The memo included a classified briefing for members from the Senate defense panel, held recently.
White House representatives have sought to justify the strikes under the president’s constitutional authority, which allow the use of military force for self-protection during confined conflicts.
Previous Strikes and International Reaction
Prior to this incident, US forces had conducted attacks against three vessels in the Caribbean, which led to 17 deaths and sparking global condemnation.
Hegseth emphasized that such operations “are ongoing” as long as “the attacks on the American people are over”.
Administrative Restructuring and Oversight
Officials has reportedly strengthened a White House security body to operate as an independent entity within the administration, a change from previous administrations which had it reporting to the national security adviser.
This restructuring has influenced the planning and implementation of these military actions, as certain authorities learning of operations shortly prior to their execution.
Despite official assertions, legal experts point out that designating cartels as terrorist entities does not provide extra powers to employ lethal force absent solid proof linking them to a foreign government.
To date, the administration has not provided such evidence concerning the alleged penetration of the Venezuelan government.
