Overview

• The Pentagon said the vessel in international waters carried substantial narcotics bound for the United States; the four people killed were labeled 'narco‑terrorists' and no U.S. forces were hurt.
• Friday’s strike is at least the fourth such operation in recent weeks in the southern Caribbean, with U.S. tallies indicating roughly 21 fatalities across the campaign.
• Trump has notified Congress that cartel members are 'illegal combatants' in a 'non‑international armed conflict,' a legal framing questioned by some lawmakers and experts.
• Venezuela denounced the attacks, reported U.S. F‑35 activity near its coast, and announced military exercises, while regional voices including ALBA members and Colombia’s president issued sharp criticisms.
• U.S. officials have released short strike videos but provided limited identifying details or independent evidence, as an expanded deployment of eight Navy ships and advanced aircraft continues in the region.