Secretary of War Pete Hegseth announced a fifth military strike on narco-terrorists near Venezuela, escalating tensions between the U.S. and the South American nation. The operation occurred in waters off Venezuela’s coast on October 3, targeting a vessel linked to drug trafficking networks allegedly connected to terrorist organizations.
Hegseth stated the targeted vessel was “affiliated with designated terrorist organizations” and was transporting “substantial amounts of narcotics headed to America to poison our people.” He emphasized that intelligence confirmed those aboard were “narco-terrorists” operating along a known drug trafficking route, vowing, “These strikes will continue until the attacks on the American people are over!!!!”
The strike marks the fifth lethal operation by U.S. forces against boats near Venezuelan waters under the Trump administration’s campaign against cartel threats. President Donald J. Trump recently informed Congress of an “armed conflict” with foreign drug cartels, asserting the actions align with legal authority to address national security risks. Secretary of State Marco Rubio endorsed the strategy, stating, “What will stop them is when you blow them up. You get rid of them.”
Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro condemned the strikes as a violation of sovereignty, responding with military drills near La Orchila island. The exercises involved drones, warships, and electronic warfare units, while Maduro signed a decree expanding his emergency powers to manage security and economic infrastructure in case of foreign military intervention.
