Hegseth Announces Another 'Narco-Boat' Attack After Trump Insists No Declaration Of War Needed

The US military is intensifying attacks on vessels suspected of drug trafficking near Venezuela. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth announced a recent strike, the third within a week, killing alleged terrorists. This operation, ordered by President Trump, targeted a vessel operated by Tren de Aragua (TdA), a designated terrorist organization. Hegseth stated the vessel was involved in drug smuggling and transiting a known trafficking route. The Pentagon chief highlighted this was the first nighttime strike since the operations began. Trump has publicly stated his intention to 'kill' drug smugglers, bypassing formal declarations of war. Journalists are investigating the accuracy of the US's targeting of drug smuggling boats. Trump's approach mirrors actions of previous administrations regarding extrajudicial killings, as pointed out by some commentators. Critics are questioning the legality and ethics of these attacks. Some members of Congress, like Senator Rand Paul, are expressing concerns and questioning these actions.