A U.S. strike overnight on an alleged drug-smuggling vessel tied to a Venezuelan gang killed six people in the Caribbean Sea, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Friday.
In a post on X, Hegseth said the operation was carried out “at the direction of President Trump” and described the target as a vessel operated by Tren de Aragua (TdA), which U.S. authorities have designated a terrorist organization. According to Hegseth, intelligence showed the boat was involved in illicit narcotics trafficking, was transiting a known smuggling route, and was carrying narcotics.
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“The vessel was known by our intelligence to be involved in illicit narcotics smuggling, was transiting along a known narco-trafficking route, and carrying narcotics. Six male narco-terrorists were aboard the vessel during the strike, which was conducted in international waters—and was the first strike at night. All six terrorists were killed and no US forces were harmed in this strike,” he wrote.
Hegseth warned that the U.S. campaign will continue. “If you are a narco-terrorist smuggling drugs in our hemisphere, we will treat you like we treat Al-Qaeda. Day or NIGHT, we will map your networks, track your people, hunt you down, and kill you,” he said.
Officials said the six deaths bring the total number of people killed in the recent regional strikes to 43. Further details about the operation, including any independent verification of the vessel’s cargo or the identities of those killed, have not been released.
