U.S. military forces conducted a strike against an alleged drug vessel on Thursday, and for the first time, there were survivors among the crew, according to Reuters, which broke the story.
Two survivors have reportedly been detained by U.S. naval forces and are being held on a warship in international waters. It remains unclear what the Trump administration will do moving forward.
It is not confirmed whether or not survivors were intended, but officials told The New York Times that two others were confirmed dead.
Thursday’s strike adds to the number of attacks under the authority of President Donald Trump in the administration’s efforts to deter drug traffickers from transferring drugs to the U.S. through the Caribbean. The White House has shared some of the strikes on social media, warning narco terrorists what will become of them if they attempt to bring drugs into the country.
Though some question the legality of destroying the vessels in international waters and providing little information, the Trump administration has remained confident in its actions. Earlier this month, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth posted on X, “These strikes will continue until the attacks on the American people are over!!!!”
Last week, Hegseth also announced a new counter-narcotics Joint Task Force in the area with the “responsibility to crush the cartels, stop the poison, and keep America safe. The message is clear: if you traffic drugs toward our shores, we will stop you cold.”
Trump vs. Venezuela
The ongoing conflict with the U.S. and Venezuela escalated on Wednesday when Trump told a room of reporters that he authorized the CIA to take unspecified action in Venezuela.
“I authorized for two reasons, really,” Trump said. “No. 1, they have emptied their prisons into the United States of America.
“And the other thing are drugs,” he added. ”We have a lot of drugs coming in from Venezuela, and a lot of the Venezuelan drugs come in through the sea."
NBC News political analyst Carlos Carbelo told NBC’s Mosheh Gains that the U.S. is getting closer and closer to a full-fledged military conflict with Venezuela.
“It is pretty peculiar or unique that an American administration would announce that it has authorized covert CIA operations,” Carbelo said. “So to me, this means that the United States is really trying to up the pressure against Maduro,” the president of Venezuela, and get him out of power, “and to have a government that No. 1 is perhaps friendlier to the United States, and that No. 2 does right by the Venezuelan people,”
He continued, “Even though Democrats have questioned the administration’s actions in the Caribbean, Maduro has no fans on the Hill. He’s an anti-American dictator. He has violated his own people’s human rights (and) imprisoned people who oppose his government, so there is no love lost for him, no sympathy for him.”
Adm. Alvin Holsey to retire
Before the news of the struck vessel on Thursday, Hegseth announced the early retirement of Adm. Alvin Holsey, commander of the U.S. Southern Command, which oversees U.S. military activities in Latin America and about 1,200 personnel.
“Effective, 12 December 2025 l will retire from the U.S. Navy. Serving as your commander and deputy for the past 34 months has been a tremendous honor. The SOUTHCOM team has made lasting contributions to the defense of our nation and will continue to do so,” Holsey said in a statement. “I am confident that you will forge ahead, focused on your mission that strengthens our nation and ensures its longevity as a beacon of freedom around the globe. Stephanie and I extend our deepest gratitude and appreciation for the opportunity to have served alongside our nation’s finest warfighters. Keep Charging!!”
Though he did not comment as to why he was retiring early, Sen. Jack Reed, the leading Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, told Reuters he found it troubling.
“Admiral Holsey’s resignation only deepens my concern that this administration is ignoring the hard-earned lessons of previous U.S. military campaigns and the advice of our most experienced warfighters,” said Reed, D-R.I.