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As stated by US Defense Secretary the Pentagon's top official, American forces killed four individuals during a mission targeting a vessel allegedly carrying narcotics offshore close to Venezuela.

This action took place shortly after American authorities notified Congress that the country had entered an armed confrontation with drug cartels.

It represents no fewer than the fourth extraordinary and disputed attack conducted by American military outside American waters in recent weeks.

Specifics of the Strike

The defense secretary stated that the boat was targeted while carrying substantial amounts of illegal drugs destined for the United States, posing a threat to public health.

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

The defense secretary also claimed that the boat was “affiliated with” Designated Terrorist Organizations, a classification applied in a confidential memo to Congress.

Legal and Political Background

US officials has informed Congress that it considers cartels as “non-state armed groups” whose activities in narcotics trafficking “constitute an armed attack” on the US.

This notification was accompanied by a classified briefing for members of the Senate armed services committee, held earlier this week.

Administration officials attempted to legitimize the strikes by citing Trump’s Article II powers, which allow military action for self-protection in limited engagements.

Previous Strikes and Global Reaction

Before the latest incident, US forces carried out attacks against three vessels in Caribbean waters, resulting in 17 deaths and sparking widespread international outrage.

The defense secretary reiterated that such operations “will continue” as long as “threats to US citizens persist”.

Administrative Changes and Oversight

Officials has reportedly strengthened the Homeland Security Council to function as an independent entity inside the executive branch, a change from previous administrations which had it reporting to the national security adviser.

This restructuring has influenced the coordination and implementation of such strikes, with some officials learning of operations shortly prior to they occur.

Regardless of the administration’s claims, juridical specialists point out that labeling cartels as foreign terrorist organizations does not provide additional authority to employ deadly action absent concrete evidence linking them to another state.

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