Fri Oct 03 17:12:05 UTC 2025: **FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE**

**U.S. Conducts Fourth Lethal Strike on Boat in Caribbean, Claims Drug Trafficking**

**WASHINGTON D.C. –** Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth announced Friday that the United States military conducted its fourth “lethal, kinetic strike” against a boat in the Caribbean Sea, near the coast of Venezuela. Hegseth, posting on X, stated the vessel was trafficking narcotics headed to the U.S. He claimed the strike resulted in the deaths of four “narco-terrorists” and that no U.S. forces were harmed.

The Trump administration has been engaging in similar strikes since early September, citing intelligence claiming the boats are used by narcotics traffickers targeting the U.S. However, the administration has yet to provide tangible evidence to support these claims.

Hegseth vowed to continue the strikes, asserting that U.S. intelligence definitively identified the vessel and its occupants as involved in drug trafficking on a known transit route. “These strikes will continue until the attacks on the American people are over!!!!” he exclaimed in his post.

The escalating actions have drawn criticism and raised serious legal questions. Legal experts warn the strikes may violate international law prohibiting extrajudicial killings outside of recognized combat zones. Traditionally, drug trafficking is not considered an “attack” justifying military action under the UN Charter.

However, the Trump administration has sought to redefine the drug trade as an armed conflict, reportedly presenting a confidential memo to Congress declaring a “non-international armed conflict” with drug cartels, labeling them “unlawful combatants.” This designation, traditionally used for internal conflicts, raises constitutional concerns, as Congress holds the sole authority to declare war.

Furthermore, the administration has been designating various Latin American cartels as “foreign terrorist organizations,” including the Venezuelan group Tren de Aragua, further escalating tensions.

The strikes have heightened tensions with the Venezuelan government, which has responded by reinforcing its coastal military presence. In parallel, the U.S. has increased its military presence in the Caribbean, deploying fighter jets to bases in Puerto Rico and other locations. The potential for further escalation remains a significant concern.

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