U.S. Has Now Killed At Least 70 In Strikes Against Alleged Drug Vessels

The death toll of U.S. strikes against alleged drug vessels in the Caribbean and the Eastern Pacific has now reached at least 70 following the latest episode on Thursday.

The latest strike took place in the Caribbean and killed three people, according to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.

"The vessel was trafficking narcotics in the Caribbean and was struck in international waters. No U.S. forces were harmed in the strike, and three male narco-terrorists — who were aboard the vessel — were killed. To all narco-terrorists who threaten our homeland: if you want to stay alive, stop trafficking drugs. If you keep trafficking deadly drugs—we will kill you," Hegseth said in a social media publication in which he attached footage of the attack.

The U.S. has now destroyed at least 18 vessels, including one "narco sub," CBS News detailed.

Chances of an imminent escalation towards strikes in Venezuela seemed to lower this week following two reports. One claimed that President Donald Trump expressed reservations about ordering strikes in the South American country, fearing Maduro won't leave power even in that case.

The other noted that Trump officials told lawmakers in a briefing that the administration does not currently have legal authority to launch military strikes inside the South American country.

However, they said, the administration is now seeking a new Justice Department opinion that could allow such attacks without congressional approval.

According to CNN, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and an official from the Office of Legal Counsel (OLC) informed lawmakers that the existing OLC opinion—written to justify strikes against suspected drug-trafficking boats in international waters—does not apply to land targets in Venezuela or elsewhere in the region.

In the meantime, however, the U.S. continues to conduct strikes against alleged drug boats and fly aircraft close to the country's shores. On Thursday, the U.S. flew bombers less than 50 miles from the Venezuelan coast.

Local outlet Monitoreamos noted that the U.S. flew two strategic B-52H Stratofortress planes identified as TITO41 and TITO42. The operation takes place a week after the U.S. sent B-1B bombers close to the country, noting they turned off transponders while flying over the Caribbean and then turned them on again as they got closer to the Venezuelan shores.