US EditionUS defence chief says military has authorisation for strikes on vessels off Venezuela
The US military has conducted at least four strikes targeting drug trafficking vessels designated as terrorist threats in recent weeks, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said.
- On 3 and 4 October 2025, US military forces engaged two Venezuelan ships operating in international waters close to Venezuela.
- These strikes took place during a US military buildup in the Caribbean, which President Trump justified by declaring that the country is engaged in an internal armed conflict against drug cartels.
- US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth stated the military has full authorization to strike suspected drug trafficking vessels and called traffickers north of Venezuela legitimate targets.
- At least four people died in the latest strike, the fourth in recent weeks, though officials have not provided evidence for the drug trafficking claims as critics question the legal basis.
- Venezuela condemned the attacks and increasing US military presence, while Russia also expressed concern about potential escalation in the Caribbean region.
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12 Articles
Now Trump has threatened 'land-based strikes' on Venezuelan territory
US American military forces reportedly attacked two more Venezuelan vessels in international waters near the South American nation on 3 and 4 October. This brings the total number of similar strikes to four, with at least 21 people dead. And now, Trump is threatening to do the same – but this time, ‘Without a doubt’ War secretary Pete Hegseth posted on Twitter that: The strike was conducted in international waters just off the coast of Venezuela…
US strikes yet another alleged drug-trafficking boat in Caribbean
US President Donald Trump and Secretary of War Pete Hegseth publicly confirmed and defended the recent attacks on vessels in the Caribbean Sea, escalating the administration's "war on drugs" by characterizing the cartels as "narco-terrorists" and the operations as "acts of war."
Hegseth Says He Has Every Authorization Needed for Caribbean Strikes
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said he has every authorization needed for strikes in the Caribbean by the U.S. military against vessels allegedly carrying illegal drugs just off the coast of Venezuela. Hegseth was speaking in a Fox News interview broadcast on Sunday. The...
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