In a significant military action, the US military has conducted a deadly strike in international waters near South America, resulting in the death of three individuals allegedly linked to drug trafficking. This operation was confirmed by former President Donald Trump in a post on Truth Social on Monday. Trump stated, “This morning, on my orders, US Military Forces conducted a SECOND Kinetic Strike against positively identified, extraordinarily violent drug trafficking cartels and narcoterrorists in the SOUTHCOM area of responsibility.”
The strike targeted confirmed narcoterrorists from Venezuela who were reportedly transporting illegal narcotics, described by Trump as “a deadly weapon poisoning Americans!” The operation underscores the U.S. government's stance that these violent drug trafficking organizations pose a significant threat to U.S. national security, foreign policy, and vital interests.
According to Trump, the strike resulted in three male terrorists being killed in action, with no U.S. forces harmed during the operation. This announcement follows another military action less than two weeks prior, where the U.S. military killed eleven individuals allegedly connected to the Venezuelan Tren de Aragua gang.
The Trump administration has not provided extensive details about the recent military actions. When questioned about the specifics of the earlier strike, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth emphasized the U.S.'s absolute authority to conduct such operations. As tensions with Venezuela escalate, the U.S. has deployed military assets to the region, including the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group, the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit, and ten F-35 fighter jets stationed in Puerto Rico.
In response to the increasing military presence, Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yván Gil stated that Venezuela is “not betting on conflict” with the U.S. and expressed a desire to avoid confrontation. However, reports from CNN have indicated that Defense Department officials could not ascertain conclusive evidence linking the targets of the first attack to Tren de Aragua, raising questions about the justification for the strikes.
Concerns regarding the legality of the strikes have been voiced by lawmakers. Senator Jack Reed, ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, stated, “There is no evidence – none – that this strike was conducted in self-defense.” He emphasized that under both domestic and international law, the U.S. military lacks the authority to use lethal force against a civilian vessel unless it is in self-defense.
Despite these concerns, Trump and Hegseth have insisted that the boat was on its way to the U.S. and warned of lethal consequences for those involved in drug trafficking aimed at the United States. Hegseth asserted that the military was fully aware of the identities and intentions of the individuals involved: “We knew exactly who they were, exactly what they were doing, what they represented, and why they were going where they were going.”
Both Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio have indicated that further military actions against drug cartels could be forthcoming. Rubio, during a recent trip to Mexico and Ecuador, stated that the U.S. is “going to wage combat against drug cartels that are flooding American streets and killing Americans.” As this story develops, updates will be provided regarding the ongoing military efforts and the response from Venezuelan authorities.
