The U.S. military has launched yet another strike on a boat near Venezuelan waters, killing six people aboard in what officials are calling an anti-narcotics operation. President Donald Trump made the announcement Tuesday, escalating what’s quickly becoming a pattern of aggressive maritime actions.
According to Trump, the boat was “affiliated with a Designated Terrorist Organization,” though he didn’t specify which group or offer any proof. The claim, posted to his Truth Social account, leaned heavily on vague intelligence sources and gave no room for scrutiny.
“Intelligence confirmed the vessel was trafficking narcotics, was associated with illicit narcoterrorist networks, and was transiting along a known DTO route,” Trump wrote. “The strike was conducted in International Waters, and six male narcoterrorists aboard the vessel were killed in the strike. No U.S. Forces were harmed.”
This marks at least the fifth such strike announced by the U.S. government—just this month. The Pentagon confirmed a similar operation earlier in October, adding to a growing list of incidents that appear to blur the line between counter-narcotics missions and undeclared military engagements.
The president also posted an unclassified video of the strike, though it offers little in the way of context. No timestamps, no identifiable insignias—just a grainy infrared clip showing a targeted explosion at sea.
Critics are already raising eyebrows over the administration’s increasing reliance on military force in international waters without publicly available evidence or congressional oversight.
While Trump frames these strikes as vital to national security, the lack of transparency is troubling. Labeling a boat as connected to terrorism, then destroying it without due process or verifiable intel, opens up serious questions about legality, accountability, and motive. As of now, no international body has verified the U.S. claims, and Venezuela has not issued an official response yet.
Watch the clip below:
This is a developing story and will be updated.
