Overview
- War Secretary Pete Hegseth announced the operation and posted an unclassified video of the strike.
- He said the vessel was run by a designated terrorist organization, was carrying narcotics, and was hit in international waters.
- The action is at least the 16th publicly acknowledged strike this year on alleged drug-smuggling boats, with a reported death toll above 60.
- Officials say intelligence ties the targets to trafficking, though they have not released the underlying evidence.
- Reporting describes a broader U.S. regional military buildup and CIA authorities focused on Venezuela, while President Trump has denied approving strikes inside the country.