Hegseth Announces 17th Lethal Strike on Alleged Drug Traffickers
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth declared a new lethal kinetic strike on Thursday targeting alleged narcoterrorists in the Caribbean, resulting in three deaths.
“To all narco-terrorists who threaten our homeland: if you want to stay alive, stop trafficking drugs. If you keep trafficking deadly drugs—we will kill you,” Hegseth wrote on X.
No friendly forces were harmed during the operation. So far, approximately 70 individuals have been killed in this military campaign conducted under the Trump administration across the Eastern Pacific and Caribbean regions.
Growing Tensions with Venezuela
The continuing strikes have escalated tensions between President Donald Trump and Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. The President has accused Maduro of participating in drug smuggling.
“Every one of those boats is responsible for the death of 25,000 American people,” Trump stated earlier this month.
Although details remain limited, President Trump confirmed last month that he authorized the CIA to conduct covert operations in Venezuela, sparking speculation about plans to remove Maduro from power.
Summary
The Trump administration intensifies its campaign against narcoterrorism, combining military strikes and covert operations amid rising conflicts with Venezuela.