Pete Hegseth said that Washington would treat anyone smuggling drugs in the Western Hemisphere as if they were members of al Qaeda. But Democrats say such bombings risk war with Venezuela.
The US secretary of war has claimed that six « narco-terrorists » have been killed in a strike on an alleged drug smuggling boat in the Caribbean Sea.
Pete Hegseth said the US had bombed a vessel operated by Tren de Aragua – a Venezuelan gang designated a terror group by Washington in February.
Writing on X, he claimed that the boat was involved in « illicit narcotics smuggling » and was transiting along a « known narco-trafficking route » when it was struck during the night.
All six men on board the boat, which was in international waters, were killed and no US forces were harmed, he said.
Mr Hegseth added: « If you are a narco-terrorist smuggling drugs in our hemisphere, we will treat you like we treat al Qaeda. Day or NIGHT, we will map your networks, track your people, hunt you down, and kill you.
