US Defense Secretary Hagseth announced on Friday that the US military once again launched an attack on a suspected drug-trafficking vessel off the coast of Venezuela, resulting in the deaths of four men onboard. This marks at least the fourth such operation by the US in recent weeks.
Posting on social platform X, Hagseth said: "Four narco-terrorists onboard were eliminated in this operation, which took place in international waters off the Venezuelan coast, as the vessel was secretly transporting large amounts of drugs, attempting to poison our people in the United States."
US Defense Secretary: Drug Trafficking Bound for the US
He stated that US intelligence "undoubtedly" confirmed the vessel was smuggling drugs, identified the personnel onboard as "narco-terrorists," and noted the vessel was traveling along a known drug smuggling route.
Less than a day before this attack, US media revealed that President Trump had sent a memo to Congress formally designating drug trafficking organizations as unlawful combatants, and declared that the US is now in a state of "armed conflict" with them.
Claims Four Narco-Terrorists Were Killed
Hagseth said the operation killed four men, but offered no details regarding their identities or affiliations. A video circulating online shows a vessel suddenly exploding while sailing in international waters; after the smoke clears, the boat can be seen on fire, burning and drifting on the sea surface.
He emphasized: "These strike operations will continue until the attacks on the American people come to an end."
Trump: Drugs Carried Could Kill 50,000 Americans
Trump also posted on his social media, Truth Social, stating that the vessel "was carrying enough drugs to kill 25,000 to 50,000 people," and suggested the boat was near the Venezuelan coast, about to enter US territory.
Venezuelan President Maduro did not specifically comment on this attack, but noted that his country is prepared to defend itself.
Maduro said: "Venezuela possesses the right to peace, sovereignty, and existence—no empire in this world can take that away from us; if it becomes necessary to shift from unarmed struggle to armed struggle, this nation will do so—no more colonialism."