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According to US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, a US strike eliminated four people during a mission targeting a vessel allegedly carrying illegal drugs in international waters close to Venezuela.

This action took place just a day after American authorities informed Congress that the country had entered a "non-international armed conflict" against drug cartels.

This marks at least the fourth such unprecedented and controversial operation conducted by American military outside American waters over the past month.

Details of the Military Operation

The defense secretary stated that the vessel was struck while transporting large quantities of illegal drugs destined for the United States, posing a threat as poisoning the people.

“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 had links to terrorist groups, a label introduced in a confidential memo sent to lawmakers.

Legal and Political Background

The Trump administration have notified Congress regarding its view that cartels as “non-state armed groups” whose activities in narcotics trafficking represent an armed assault on the US.

This notification included a classified briefing with lawmakers from the Senate defense panel, held earlier this week.

Administration officials have sought to legitimize these operations by citing the president’s constitutional authority, permitting military action in self-defense in limited engagements.

Previous Strikes and Global Response

Before the latest incident, American military had conducted strikes against three vessels in the Caribbean, resulting in 17 deaths and causing global condemnation.

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

Governmental Restructuring and Oversight

The Trump administration has allegedly empowered the Homeland Security Council to operate separately inside the executive branch, a shift from previous administrations where it reported to the national security adviser.

This restructuring has influenced the coordination and execution of such strikes, as certain authorities being informed about strikes shortly prior to they occur.

Despite official claims, juridical specialists point out that designating cartels as foreign terrorist organizations does not provide extra powers to employ deadly action absent solid proof linking them to another state.

So far, US officials has yet to offer such evidence concerning the supposed penetration by cartels into Venezuela's regime.