President Donald Trump announced on Tuesday that a U.S. military strike near the coast of Venezuela had killed six alleged drug smugglers. The operation, conducted in international waters, was authorized under his standing authority as Commander-in-Chief, according to a statement posted on Truth Social. The strike targeted a vessel suspected of trafficking narcotics and associated with illicit narcoterrorist networks, which the administration claims operate along known routes in the South Command area of responsibility.
This marks the second such strike in the region, following a similar operation that killed four suspects earlier this month. The administration has justified these actions as part of a broader effort to disrupt drug cartels and protect U.S. shores from narcotics trafficking. The Department of Defense has since announced the establishment of a new counter-narcotics Joint Task, aiming to intensify efforts against drug traffickers. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth emphasized that the task force will ensure that ‘if you traffic drugs toward our shores, we will stop you cold.’
However, the strikes have sparked controversy among members of Congress, who have raised legal concerns over the administration’s actions. Sens. Adam Schiff and Tim Kaine recently filed a war powers resolution to block the use of force against non-state organizations, arguing that Congress must retain authority over declarations of war. The resolution, however, failed to gain sufficient support, passing by a narrow margin in the Senate. Despite this, several prominent Republicans, including Rand Paul and Lisa Murkowski, joined Democratic senators in opposing the strikes, citing constitutional concerns.
Venezuela, which has consistently criticized U.S. actions in the region, has also weighed in, accusing the U.S. of pursuing a ‘regime change’ agenda. President Nicolás Maduro condemned the strikes as part of a larger effort to ‘intimidate’ his government and secure access to Venezuela’s natural resources. The U.S. administration, meanwhile, has maintained that Maduro is an illegitimate leader, effectively classifying him as part of a drug cartel. As tensions escalate, the administration’s justification for these military operations continues to fuel both domestic and international debate over the legitimacy and scope of U.S. intervention in the region.