This was the 21st such operation in 75 days, bringing the total number of reported deaths in the campaign to at least 83. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the strikes are part of an intensified effort to block narcotics shipments believed to be moving from Venezuela toward American shores.
The military released images of the burning vessel, stating that the boat was transporting illegal narcotics. Earlier this month, on November 10, the US targeted two similar vessels in the region, killing six people. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said those boats were linked to terrorist networks and Venezuelan criminal groups allegedly involved in cocaine trafficking.
The escalation comes as Washington has officially designated Venezuela’s Cartel de Los Soles as a foreign terrorist organisation. Rubio said the move enables US authorities to pursue anyone aiding the group, which officials claim collaborates with the violent Tren de Aragua syndicate. The Trump administration continues to accuse Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro of directing the cartel, a charge he denies.
While the Department of Justice has asserted that US forces participating in the missions will be shielded from prosecution, lawmakers and human rights groups have questioned the legal basis for the strikes, noting they occur outside recognised conflict zones. Critics warn the operations could heighten instability across Latin America.
Amid the campaign, the US has expanded its military footprint in the Caribbean. Over the weekend, the USS Gerald R. Ford strike group, carrying roughly 12,000 personnel, moved through the Anegada Passage near the British Virgin Islands. The Pentagon says the deployment is aimed at countering narcotics trafficking, though regional partners have quietly expressed concern about escalating tensions and long-term security implications.
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