The United States military conducted a lethal kinetic strike on an alleged drug-smuggling vessel in international waters off the coast of Venezuela on Friday, resulting in the deaths of four men. This marks at least the fourth deadly operation in the Southern Caribbean since early September, bringing the total number of people reported killed in these strikes to 21.
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced the strike, stating it was carried out under President Donald Trump’s orders. Hegseth asserted that the four males killed were “narco-terrorists” aboard a vessel affiliated with Designated Terrorist Organizations.
The Allegations:
- The Target: The vessel was reportedly transporting “substantial amounts of narcotics” headed for the United States.
- The Justification: U.S. intelligence “without a doubt” confirmed the vessel was trafficking drugs and operating on a known transit route.
- The Legal Stance: The Trump administration recently informed Congress that the U.S. is in a formal “armed conflict” with drug cartels designated as terrorist organizations, asserting suspected smugglers should be considered “unlawful combatants” to provide legal cover for the use of deadly force.
President Trump stated on social media that the boat was “loaded with enough drugs to kill 25 to 50 thousand people“. Hegseth vowed that the strikes will continue “until the attacks on the American people are over!!!!”.
INTERNATIONAL TENSIONS MOUNT
The aggressive strikes have significantly heightened tensions with Venezuela, as at least three of the targeted vessels reportedly originated there.
- Venezuelan Accusations: Venezuela’s defense minister accused the U.S. of threatening national security after American combat planes approached its coastline on Thursday, calling it a “military harassment”.
- Controversy: The strategy of lethal strikes without attempting to capture individuals or seize cargo has drawn legal scrutiny. Critics have questioned why traditional interdiction methods, often involving the U.S. Coast Guard, were not used before instantly escalating to lethal force.
- Skepticism: Some officials and critics have raised doubts, noting that in September, the administration announced a strike that killed 11 people, claiming they were members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua. However, U.S. intelligence assessments and experts have previously stated that this group is not deeply involved in large-scale narcotics trafficking, particularly for the U.S. market.