Trump administration says more operations against cartels coming

Senior U.S. national security officials confirmed on Wednesday that military operations against drug cartels would continue, setting the stage for an ongoing campaign in Latin America, even as key details about a recent deadly strike on a Venezuelan vessel remained unclear.

On Tuesday, the U.S. military killed 11 people in a strike on a vessel from Venezuela that was allegedly carrying illegal drugs, marking the first operation since President Donald Trump deployed warships to the southern Caribbean. However, little information has been released about the strike, including the legal justification or the type of drugs involved. U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated that operations would persist, emphasizing the seriousness of the mission.

"We’ve got assets in the air, on ships, and in the water, and this mission won’t stop with just this strike," Hegseth told FOX & Friends. "Anyone trafficking in those waters, especially those designated as narco-terrorists, will face the same fate."

Details on how the strike was carried out remain classified, including whether drones, torpedoes, or other means were used. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, speaking in Mexico City, assured that similar strikes would follow. "The President is committed to waging war on narco-terrorist organizations," Rubio said.

President Trump, without providing evidence, claimed the U.S. military had identified the crew of the vessel as members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua, a group Washington labeled a terrorist organization in February. Trump also stated that "massive amounts of drugs" were found on the boat, showing video footage of bags of drugs.

While the Pentagon has not confirmed the specifics about the crew or the rationale for killing those on board, both major U.S. political parties have previously asserted the authority to carry out limited military strikes in cases of direct threats to the U.S., as Trump did with the Iran strike in June.

Rubio argued that a boat carrying illicit drugs posed an immediate threat to U.S. security, asserting that Trump had the right to eliminate it under urgent circumstances. However, legal experts, including Mary Ellen O'Connell from the University of Notre Dame, criticized the operation, claiming it violated fundamental principles of international law.

The decision to destroy the vessel instead of seizing it and apprehending its crew is rare and recalls U.S. actions against groups like al-Qaeda. Recent U.S. military deployments to the southern Caribbean, including seven warships and a nuclear-powered submarine, have intensified in line with Trump's pledge to combat drug cartels.

In a statement, Hegseth directed his remarks at Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, referring to him as a "kingpin of a drug narco state" and emphasizing that only Maduro should be concerned by these operations.

Venezuelan officials, who accuse the U.S. of seeking "regime change," have questioned the motives behind the U.S. buildup in the Caribbean. Despite this, Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado supported the strike, calling it an action to save lives in both Venezuela and the U.S.

Authorities in Venezuela, however, have disputed the authenticity of the footage Trump shared, suggesting that it might have been artificially generated. While Reuters conducted preliminary checks on the video, further verification is ongoing.

The strike has also sparked skepticism within the Venezuelan opposition. Henrique Capriles, a former presidential candidate, questioned how the U.S. had identified the victims and their nationality, given the lack of clear evidence.

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