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As stated by American defense chief the Pentagon's top official, American forces eliminated four people during a mission targeting a boat suspected of carrying illegal drugs in international waters close to Venezuela.

The strike took place just a day after US officials informed Congress regarding the US was entering a "non-international armed conflict" against narco-trafficking organizations.

This marks no fewer than the fourth such extraordinary and disputed attack by US forces outside American waters over the past month.

Details of the Military Operation

The defense secretary stated that the vessel was targeted as it was transporting large quantities of narcotics bound for the United States, which he described to public health.

“Intelligence assessments definitively verified the vessel’s involvement in drug trafficking, identifying those aboard as narco-terrorists using established smuggling routes,” he declared via an online statement.

The defense secretary also claimed that the boat was “affiliated with” terrorist groups, a classification introduced in a confidential memo sent to lawmakers.

Legal and Political Context

US officials has notified the legislative branch that it considers drug trafficking organizations are non-state armed actors and their actions in narcotics trafficking represent an armed assault against the United States.

This notification was accompanied by a secret session with lawmakers of the Senate armed services committee, conducted earlier this week.

White House representatives attempted to legitimize these operations under the president’s Article II powers, permitting the use of military force for self-protection in limited engagements.

Previous Operations and International Response

Before the latest incident, American military had conducted strikes against three vessels in the Caribbean, resulting in 17 fatalities and causing widespread international outrage.

Hegseth emphasized that such operations “are ongoing” until “threats to US citizens persist”.

Administrative Changes and Oversight

Officials have allegedly empowered the Homeland Security Council to function as an independent entity inside the administration, a shift unlike prior governments which had it reporting to the security chief.

The reorganization has influenced the planning and implementation of these military actions, as certain authorities learning of strikes only hours before they occur.

Despite the administration’s assertions, legal experts have noted that designating trafficking groups as terrorist entities does not grant additional authority to employ deadly action absent concrete evidence connecting them with a foreign government.

So far, US officials has yet to offer proof regarding the supposed infiltration by cartels into Venezuela's regime.