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According to American defense chief Pete Hegseth, American forces eliminated four individuals during a mission targeting a vessel allegedly transporting illegal drugs offshore close to Venezuela.

The strike occurred just a day after American authorities informed Congress that the country had entered a "non-international armed conflict" with drug cartels.

This marks no fewer than the fourth such extraordinary and disputed attack conducted by American military outside American waters over the past month.

Details of the Strike

The defense secretary stated that the boat was targeted as it was transporting large quantities of illegal drugs destined for America, which he described to public health.

“Intelligence assessments definitively verified the vessel’s involvement in drug trafficking, identifying those aboard as narco-terrorists using established smuggling routes,” Hegseth said via an online statement.

Hegseth further asserted that the vessel was “affiliated with” terrorist groups, a classification introduced through a private document sent to lawmakers.

Legal and Political Background

US officials have informed the legislative branch regarding its view that drug trafficking organizations as “non-state armed groups” and their actions smuggling drugs “constitute an armed attack” against the United States.

This notification included a secret session for members of the Senate armed services committee, conducted earlier this week.

Administration officials have sought to legitimize these operations under Trump’s Article II powers, which allow military action for self-protection in limited engagements.

Previous Strikes and Global Response

Prior to this incident, US forces carried out strikes on three boats in Caribbean waters, resulting in 17 fatalities and sparking global condemnation.

The defense secretary reiterated that such operations “will continue” as long as “the attacks on the American people are over”.

Administrative Restructuring and Supervision

The Trump administration has allegedly empowered a White House security body to operate as an independent entity within the administration, a change from previous administrations where it reported to the national security adviser.

This restructuring affected the planning and implementation of such strikes, with some officials learning of strikes only hours before their execution.

Despite the administration’s assertions, legal experts have noted that labeling trafficking groups as terrorist entities does not provide extra powers for using deadly action absent solid proof linking them to a foreign government.

So far, the administration has yet to offer such evidence regarding the alleged penetration of the Venezuelan government.