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Axios
Axios
Politics

Here are all of Hegseth's military boat strikes near Venezuela that we know about

Pete Hegseth Donald Trump the Department of War Venezuela Terrorist United States Nicolás Maduro Pentagon Trafficking Tren de Aragua

The White House on Monday defended the legality of its strikes on suspected drug boats from Venezuela and the surrounding area following a Washington Post report that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered a second attack on a ship to kill survivors.

The big picture: Military experts warn the attacks could be illegal and lawmakers are demanding more information about the lethal strikes, which are often announced by President Trump or Hegseth on social media.

  • The attacks have killed dozens so far.
  • The strikes are a part of a broader pressure campaign on Venezuela and President Nicolás Maduro.
  • The Department of Defense did not immediately respond to Axios' request for comment Monday.

Here's a look at the military boat strikes we know about.

Pre-strikes: Boats head to Venezuela

In mid-August, the U.S. sent warships, spy planes, fighter jets, bombers and drones to the waters off Venezuela.

  • This came after the U.S. increased the bounty on Maduro over alleged drug trafficking.
The U.S. Navy cruiser USS Lake Erie docking at the Port of Balboa in Panama City on Aug. 29, as part of a broader U.S. naval buildup near Venezuela . Photo: Mauricio Valenzuela/AFP via Getty Images

Strike 1: Pentagon's "precision strike"

The Pentagon announced a "precision strike against a drug vessel operated by a designated narco-terrorist organization" on Sept. 2, kicking off Trump's campaign.

  • Trump posted a video of an attack, saying it killed 11 alleged members of Tren de Aragua, a cartel based on Venezuela.

Friction point: The Washington Post recently reported that the initial strike lit the boat on fire, but two survivors clung to the wreckage.

  • The report alleges that Hegseth personally ordered a second strike to kill everyone aboard the boat. Hegseth denied the report's accuracy.
  • Trump backed Hegseth on Sunday: "The first strike was very lethal. It was fine. And if there were two people around, but Pete said that didn't happen," he said. "I have great confidence."

Reported death toll: 11

Strike 2

On Sept. 15, Trump announced that an attack that killed three people allegedly "transporting illegal narcotics."

Reported death toll: 3 (14 total)

Strike 3

Trump posted a video on Sept. 19 showing a strike off the coast of Venezuela that he alleged killed "three male narcoterrorists."

Reported death toll: 3 (17 total)

Strike 4

On Oct. 3, Hegseth announced a strike against an alleged drug-carrying vessel near Venezuela, killing four people.

  • "These strikes will continue until the attacks on the American people are over!!!!" Hegseth wrote on X.

Reported death toll: 4 (21 total)

Strike 5: Deaths in international waters

Almost two weeks later on Oct. 14, Trump said six people died in another attack.

  • "The strike was conducted in International Waters, and six male narcoterrorists aboard the vessel were killed in the strike," Trump wrote.

Reported death toll: 6 (27 total)

Strike 6: A submarine strike

On Oct. 16, Trump said a "drug-carrying submarine" was attacked in the Caribbean, with two people dying.

Reported death toll: 2 (29 total)

Strike 7: Hegseth warns of insurgent group

A few days later, Hegseth announced a military strike killed three men allegedly linked to the Colombian insurgent group Ejército de Liberación Nacional on Oct. 17.

Reported death toll: 3 (32 total)

Strike 8

Two alleged "narco-terrorists" were killed in a boat strike in the eastern Pacific Ocean near Colombia, Hegseth posted on X on Oct. 22.

Reported death toll: 2 (34 total)

Strike 9: Strike in the Eastern Pacific

Hegseth revealed another strike in the eastern Pacific on Oct. 22, saying three people were killed.

Reported death toll: 3 (37 total)

Strike 10: Hegseth on link to Tren de Aragua

Hegseth announced a 10th strike killed six people on a boat in the Caribbean, claiming it was operated by Tren de Aragua.

  • "Day or NIGHT, we will map your networks, track your people, hunt you down, and kill you," he said.

Reported death toll: 6 (43 total)

Strikes 11, 12, 13: Multiple boats attacked

Hegseth said on Oct. 28 that 14 people were killed from three strikes against four alleged drug smuggling boats, with one survivor.

Reported death toll: 14 (57 total)

Strike 14

Hegseth announced another lethal strike in an Oct. 29 X post, saying the U.S. killed four people on an alleged drug-carrying vessel.

  • "The Western Hemisphere is no longer a safe haven for narco-terrorists bringing drugs to our shores to poison Americans," Hegseth wrote.

Reported death toll: 4 (61 total)

Strike 15: Vessel destroyed in Caribbean

Hegseth announced in an X post on Nov. 1 that the U.S. hit a vessel in the Caribbean, killing three.

Reported death toll: 3 (64 total)

Strike 16

On Nov. 4, Hegseth said in an X post that the U.S. military struck an alleged drug-carrying vessel operated by a designated terrorist group.

  • Two people died in the attack, he said.

Reported death toll: 2 (66 total)

Strike 17: Hegseth's blunt warning

Two days later, Hegseth announced another strike on an alleged drug vessel in the Caribbean, which killed three people.

  • Hegseth offered a blunt message: "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."

Reported death toll: 3 (69 total)

Strikes 18, 19: Two vessels downed

Hegseth announced that six people were killed after the U.S. military destroyed two vessels allegedly carrying drugs. Three "narco-terrorists" were aboard each vehicle.

Reported death toll: 6 (75 total)

Strike 20: Alleged drug transport boat hit

The U.S. struck an alleged drug-transport vessel on Nov. 10, per the AP, citing an unnamed Pentagon official. The alleged strike killed four people.

Reported death toll: 4 (79 total)

Strike 21: Operation Southern Spear announced

U.S. Southern Command said in an X post on Nov. 16 that Joint Task Force Southern Spear — which was announced by Hegseth days earlier — had struck a vessel in the Eastern Pacific, killing three.

Reported death toll: 3 (82 total)

More from Axios:

How Trump's strikes on "narco-terrorists" have escalated off Venezuela and beyond

What to know about the military forces Trump is assembling near Venezuela

Venezuela's sham election collides with U.S. campaign

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