US forces have killed four people in an attack on a boat off the coast of Venezuela that was allegedly trafficking drugs, Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth says. <\/p>\n
“The strike was conducted in international waters just off the coast of Venezuela while the vessel was transporting substantial amounts of narcotics – headed to America to poison our people,” Hegseth wrote in a post on X. <\/p>\n
It is the latest in a number of recent deadly strikes that the US has carried out on boats in international waters it says are involved in “narco-trafficking”. <\/p>\n
The strikes have attracted condemnation in countries including Venezuela and Colombia, with some international lawyers describing the strikes as a breach of international law.<\/p>\n
Hegseth said the attack took place in the US Southern Command’s area of responsibility, which covers most of South America and the Caribbean. <\/p>\n
“Our intelligence, without a doubt, confirmed that this vessel was trafficking narcotics, the people onboard were narco-terrorists, and they were operating on a known narco-trafficking transit route,” Hegseth said about Friday’s attack. <\/p>\n
“These strikes will continue until the attacks on the American people are over!!!!”<\/p>\n
US President Trump also confirmed the strike on his Truth Social platform, saying that the boat was carrying enough drugs “to kill 25 to 50 thousand people”.<\/p>\n
However, the US has not provided evidence for its claims or any information about the identities of those on board.<\/p>\n
There was no immediate response from Venezuela but its president, Nicol\u00e1s Maduro, has previously condemned the strikes and said his country will defend itself against US “aggression”.<\/p>\n
Friday’s fatal attack is the fourth by the US in a month. <\/p>\n