Overview

• Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said four men were killed in international waters off Venezuela and posted video of the attack, adding no U.S. forces were harmed.
• The Pentagon and White House say intelligence confirmed the vessel was trafficking narcotics and describe those killed as “narco‑terrorists” affiliated with designated groups.
• A memo to Congress states cartels are non‑state armed groups whose actions constitute an armed attack on the United States and labels suspects “unlawful combatants.”
• At least four strikes over the past month have killed more than 20 people, as lawmakers and legal experts question the authority for using military force at sea and seek evidence on targets and seizures.
• Venezuela has condemned the operations and reported nearby U.S. military flights as a provocation, heightening regional tensions as Washington surges ships and aircraft to the Caribbean.