The United States has expanded its military campaign against drug cartels in Latin America after a deadly strike on a vessel linked to Venezuela. The incident in the Caribbean left 11 people dead and raised debate over international law and U.S. intent.
The strike, carried out on Tuesday, was the first reported attack since President Donald Trump deployed warships to the southern Caribbean earlier this year. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the mission was part of a larger crackdown on “narco-terrorists” operating in the region.
Hegseth explained that the U.S. has assets on land, at sea, and in the air to enforce the campaign. “This mission is deadly serious, and it will not stop with one strike,” he said.
Trump told reporters that large amounts of drugs were found onboard the targeted vessel. He also said the crew was tied to Tren de Aragua, a Venezuelan criminal group that Washington has designated a terrorist organization.
The Pentagon has not confirmed whether the attack used drones, torpedoes, or other weapons. Legal experts, however, questioned the operation. Mary Ellen O’Connell of Notre Dame argued it violated international law because the U.S. cannot intentionally kill suspects in international waters.
Venezuela’s government accused Washington of seeking “regime change.” President Nicolás Maduro warned that the U.S. was trying to manufacture reasons for intervention. Caracas officials even claimed the explosion footage, shared by Trump, was fake, though early reports did not support that claim.
Reactions inside Venezuela were divided. Opposition leader María Corina Machado welcomed the strike, describing Maduro as the head of a “narco-terrorist regime.” But opposition figure Henrique Capriles questioned how U.S. forces identified those killed.
The United States has deployed seven warships, a nuclear submarine, and 4,500 personnel to the Caribbean. Officials said the buildup proves Washington’s pledge to fight drug cartels at sea.
Analysts warned that the new strategy could increase tensions in the region. Whether the U.S. campaign in Venezuela will expand further remains uncertain, but officials signaled more strikes are possible.
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