Overview

• Trump told sailors the U.S. hit another suspected drug boat Saturday after a Friday strike that killed four, bringing at least four lethal maritime attacks in recent weeks with a U.S.-reported death toll of about 21.
• He said sea smuggling has ebbed and signaled attention could shift to land routes, while a senior U.S. official said he has not decided whether to move to a second phase of operations inside Venezuela.
• The White House notified Congress it views the effort as a non‑international armed conflict and treats cartel members as unlawful combatants, and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said he has every authorization needed.
• The president has called off diplomatic outreach led by envoy Richard Grenell, according to U.S. officials, narrowing engagement as the military campaign continues.
• Regional tensions deepened as Russia condemned the latest strike and pledged full support to Venezuela, and President Nicolás Maduro sought international backing including an appeal to Pope Leo XIV.