Six Dead After U.S. Military Conducts 10th Strike On Suspected Drug Cartels

Topline

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the U.S. military struck another boat in the Caribbean Sea suspected of drug trafficking, killing six—as President Donald Trump warned this week he could extend the strikes on Venezuela to land.

Hegseth said Friday the military struck a vessel in the Caribbean Sea overnight that was “operated by the Tren de Aragua” gang out of Venezuela, “a Designated Terrorist Organization,” Hegseth wrote on X.

The strike is among several others this week that the Trump administration says is part of its crackdown on drug cartels—on Wednesday, the U.S. military for the first time struck a vessel outside of the Caribbean, attacking a boat off the coast of Colombia and killing two on board.

The latest attack in the Caribbean brings the death toll in the campaign, which began in September, to 46.

Friday’s attack comes after Trump said a day earlier he may seek Congress’ approval to conduct strikes against Venezuela on land, as the Trump administration has faced criticism for using the military to combat drug traffickers.