Overview

• Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said he ordered a lethal kinetic strike this morning on a vessel carrying narcotics in international waters near Venezuela at the President’s direction.
• Hegseth reported that four people he called “drug‑terrorists” were killed in the attack and said such strikes will continue.
• A notification to Congress reported by The Hill said the President instructed the Pentagon to conduct operations against Venezuelan‑linked cartels under the laws of armed conflict.
• The document asserted that the United States is engaged in a non‑international armed conflict with specific terrorist organizations and described the situation as having reached a critical point requiring the use of force for self‑defense and protection of others.
• The notification did not specify which cartels would be targeted, and Venezuela filed a formal protest over alleged U.S. airspace incursions as violations of its sovereignty.