U.S. Strike Destroys Fentanyl-Laden Semi‑sub; Two Repatriated

U.S. forces struck and destroyed a suspected semi‑submersible drug‑smuggling vessel in the Caribbean that U.S. intelligence says was laden with fentanyl and other narcotics, and unclassified footage of the attack was released. President Trump said two of four people aboard were killed and two survivors were rescued and are being repatriated to Ecuador and Colombia for detention and possible prosecution. The strike was at least the sixth U.S. action against suspected cartel vessels since September and brings the administration’s reported campaign death toll to roughly 29. The White House is treating cartel groups as “narco‑terrorists” and asserts an armed‑conflict legal basis for lethal force, a rationale that has drawn legal, rights‑group and congressional scrutiny. Trump also acknowledged covert CIA operations on Venezuelan soil amid U.S. accusations that Caracas aids traffickers, which Venezuela denies. It remains unclear whether Ecuador or Colombia will prosecute the two returned survivors.