Overview

• Speaking at Naval Station Norfolk, President Trump said another vessel was hit Saturday and claimed traffickers are avoiding the sea, suggesting operations could shift to land routes.
• U.S. officials say at least four strikes in recent weeks have killed at least 21 people, as Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth released strike footage and asserted the boats carried substantial narcotics without providing public proof.
• The administration notified Congress that it considers a non‑international armed conflict with cartels and that members are unlawful combatants, a stance drawing legal and congressional scrutiny.
• Russia voiced full support for Venezuela after the latest strike in international waters, while Caracas denounced the attacks as illegal and a threat to national security.
• A senior U.S. official said Trump told envoy Richard Grenell to end diplomatic outreach to Venezuela last week, reflecting a harder line even as no authorization for strikes inside Venezuelan territory has been announced.