US Military Strikes Fourth Alleged Venezuelan Drug Boat Killing Four

The U.S. military, under orders from President Donald Trump and led by Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, has conducted a lethal strike against a drug smuggling vessel near Venezuela, killing four individuals aboard. This operation, conducted in international waters, targeted a boat believed to be transporting substantial amounts of narcotics to the United States, with the individuals on board described as "narco-terrorists." This strike marks the fourth such military action against drug boats in the Caribbean since September, as part of an ongoing campaign against drug cartels recently designated as terrorist organizations by the U.S. government. The Trump administration has characterized this campaign as an "armed conflict" with drug cartels, labeling them as "non-state armed groups" whose actions constitute armed attacks against the U.S. Critics warn this approach risks an endless conflict due to the decentralized nature of drug cartels. Nonetheless, U.S. officials have pledged to continue these military strikes until the threat to Americans ceases.