Hegseth emphasized that no U.S. forces were harmed in the operation.
A Pattern of Narcoterrorists Strikes
This is the fourth military strike against suspected traffickers in Venezuelan waters:
- September 2 – A strike killed 11, with Trump claiming they were members of Tren de Aragua, a violent Venezuelan gang.
- September 15 – Another speedboat was targeted, resulting in multiple deaths.
- September 19 – A third strike destroyed a suspected drug-running vessel.
- September 27 – The most recent attack killed four, with officials labeling them as narcoterrorists.
Vice President J.D. Vance even joked, “I wouldn’t go fishing right now,” acknowledging the heightened military presence in the Caribbean.
Legal Debate Over Wartime Definitions
Critics argue the administration is stretching wartime definitions to justify these operations. U.S. officials told Congress they consider the country to be in “armed conflict” with drug cartels, treating smugglers as “unlawful combatants.” This controversial classification was also used during the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.
