Secretary Pete Hegseth announced on October 3rd, 2025, that U.S. forces conducted a lethal strike on a boat operating off the coast of Venezuela, resulting in the deaths of four individuals. The strike, ordered by President Donald Trump, targeted a narco-trafficking vessel affiliated with designated terrorist organizations in the USSOUTHCOM area of responsibility. The operation occurred in international waters and no U.S. forces were harmed. Secretary Hegseth stated in a release, "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." The "kinetic strike" took place earlier on October 3rd, 2025, as the vessel was transporting substantial amounts of narcotics destined for the United States. Secretary Hegseth emphasized that these strikes will continue until attacks on the American people cease. This action occurred within the reporting window of 4:07:55 PM to 5:08:36 PM UTC. Concurrent with this strike, military buses and trucks have been observed passing south of San Juan de los Morros. This development comes amidst ongoing U.S. Marine operations in the Caribbean, including high-tempo exercises involving F-35B Lightning II fighter jets at NAS Roosevelt Roads in Puerto Rico. These operations, as previously reported, are in support of SOUTHCOM's mission and Presidential priorities. Earlier on October 3rd, Cuba's Ministry of Foreign Affairs denounced alleged "illegal incursions" of U.S. combat aircraft within Venezuela's flight information region, citing a threat to regional peace. This denouncement followed Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro's announcement of a special organizational exercise for the nation's command and control structures, aimed at strengthening defense mechanisms. Yesterday, October 2nd, 2025, Venezuelan Army S-125 “Pechora-2M” Surface-to-Air Missile Systems were observed near Maracay.
