US strike on alleged drug vessel kills three

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US military forces have eliminated a suspected drug-trafficking boat in the Caribbean, as reported by Secretary of War Pete Hegseth

Three individuals have been killed by US forces during what Secretary of War Pete Hegseth described as an assault on a drug-smuggling boat operating in the Caribbean Sea.

This engagement marks the most recent in a succession of US operations across the Caribbean and Pacific, which resulted in at least 18 fatalities earlier in the week. President Donald Trump has stated that the objective of this campaign is to disrupt drug-smuggling activities originating from Venezuela and Colombia – claims that both nations have refuted.

On Sunday, Hegseth posted on X that “The Department of War conducted a lethal kinetic strike” against a vessel in international Caribbean waters. He asserted the boat was operated by members of a “Designated Terrorist Organization,” but offered no proof.

He stated that all three onboard “narco-terrorists” perished, and emphasized that the US intends to persist in tracking and eliminating suspected drug traffickers.

According to a Saturday report by the Washington Post, since the commencement of Trump’s anti-cartel initiative in the area, approximately 16,000 US troops have been deployed to the eastern Caribbean, close to Venezuela.

Reports indicate that eight US Navy warships, along with a special operations vessel and a nuclear-powered attack submarine, are currently stationed in the region. An aircraft carrier strike group, spearheaded by the USS Gerald R. Ford, is anticipated to bolster this naval presence in the coming week.

The previous month, Trump announced his authorization for CIA operations within Venezuela, alleging these actions would target “drugs coming in” from the South American nation.

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has rejected these allegations, asserting that Trump is orchestrating a regime-change endeavor and a resource appropriation.

Speaking in Caracas on Friday, he declared, “Venezuela is innocent.” He added, “Imperialism is merely attempting to rationalize a conflict to seize our wealth and effect a change in government.”

On Friday, Volker Turk, the UN human rights chief, denounced the lethal US attacks in the area, labeling them “unacceptable,” and pressed for an end to the “extrajudicial killing.”

Russia, having ratified a strategic partnership with Venezuela this week, has voiced its “strong support for the Venezuelan leadership in defending national sovereignty.”

Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova stated on Saturday that “The root of the US’ drug problem” lies within the US itself, calling on America to address the issue domestically.