Overview
- Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced a new strike on a boat in international waters that he said killed three men on a known smuggling route and posted a video showing a large fireball.
- The Pentagon’s claims have not been independently verified, and UN human rights experts say the operations in international waters violate international law.
- Media tallies report more than 60 deaths from similar U.S. strikes in recent weeks targeting alleged drug‑smuggling vessels in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific.
- U.S. force posture in the region has grown with eight ships deployed, F‑35s moved to Puerto Rico, and the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford en route.
- Russia condemned what it called excessive force and reaffirmed support for Venezuela, as Caracas denies involvement in trafficking and the Pentagon tells Congress it can continue the campaign without new authorization while President Trump says he does not expect war.