US Military Action Kills 4 in Alleged Narcotics Vessel Operation off Venezuelan Shoreline

According to US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, a US strike eliminated four people during a mission targeting a vessel allegedly transporting illegal drugs in international waters close to Venezuela.

This action occurred shortly after US officials notified Congress regarding the US was entering a "non-international armed conflict" with drug cartels.

It represents at least the fourth unprecedented and controversial operation by US forces beyond American waters in recent weeks.

Specifics of the Military Operation

The defense secretary stated that the vessel was targeted while transporting large quantities of narcotics bound 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,” Hegseth said in a social media post.

Hegseth further asserted that the boat had links to Designated Terrorist Organizations, a label introduced through a private document to Congress.

Legal and Political Context

The Trump administration has informed the legislative branch that it considers drug trafficking organizations are non-state armed actors and their actions smuggling drugs “constitute an armed attack” against the United States.

This notification was accompanied by a classified briefing with lawmakers from the Senate defense panel, conducted earlier this week.

Administration officials attempted to justify these operations by citing the president’s Article II powers, which allow military action for self-protection during confined conflicts.

Previous Strikes and International Response

Prior to this strike, US forces had conducted attacks against three vessels in the Caribbean, resulting in 17 fatalities and sparking widespread international outrage.

The defense secretary reiterated that these strikes “are ongoing” until “threats to US citizens persist”.

Governmental Changes and Supervision

Officials have allegedly strengthened the Homeland Security Council to function separately within the executive branch, a change unlike prior governments where it reported to the security chief.

The reorganization has influenced the coordination and implementation of these military actions, with some officials learning of operations shortly prior to their execution.

Despite official assertions, legal experts have noted that designating cartels as foreign terrorist organizations does not grant additional authority for using deadly action without solid proof connecting them with a foreign government.

To date, US officials has not provided proof regarding the supposed penetration of the Venezuelan government.