Trump Announces Imminent US Military Strikes Against Drug Traffickers Inside Venezuelan Territory

Trump's cabinet meeting statements indicate an impending escalation in tensions between the United States and Venezuela.

Following multiple US air strikes targeting alleged Venezuelan drug traffickers' vessels in Caribbean waters, President Donald Trump announced that America will "very soon" commence strikes against "bad ones" residing within Venezuelan territory.

During Tuesday's cabinet meeting, Trump's remarks suggested a potential heightening of conflict between Washington and Caracas.

"We're going to start conducting these strikes on land as well. Land operations are much simpler; we have identified their locations. We know where the bad ones reside, and we'll be initiating that very soon," Trump stated during the cabinet discussion.

Trump's announcement follows intense scrutiny of his administration regarding military operations targeting alleged drug-trafficking vessels, which have resulted in over 80 fatalities thus far.

In the meeting, Trump defended War Secretary Pete Hegseth, claiming that neither he nor the Secretary had knowledge of the second strike on the suspected drug vessel. The US military executed a follow-up attack on a suspected drug-trafficking vessel in Caribbean waters on September 2 after an initial strike failed to eliminate all personnel aboard.

"I wasn't informed about the second strike. I had no knowledge regarding any individuals. I wasn't involved, though I was aware they targeted a vessel, but regarding the strike," Trump explained.

The President noted that Hegseth "was satisfied" with the initial strike but "remained unaware of a second attack, involving two individuals."

In his defense, Hegseth stated that he observed the "first strike live" but subsequently "proceeded to my next scheduled meeting."

The War Secretary further clarified that he learned about the second strike "approximately two hours later" and did not witness any "survivors."

"I received information a couple of hours afterward. I personally did not observe survivors as the vessel was ablaze. This exemplifies the fog of war," Hegseth explained.

The White House has confirmed that Admiral Frank M "Mitch" Bradley, commander of the US Special Operations Command, authorized the second strike.