A U.S. strike against an alleged drug vessel killed six suspected "narco-terrorists" in the Caribbean, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said on Friday (October 24), the latest operation in President Donald Trump's counter-drug campaign in the region.

In a post on X, Hegseth said this was the first strike carried out at night as part of the campaign which began in September. The strike took place overnight and the vessel was operated by the Tren de Aragua gang, he added.

While Hegseth did not provide any evidence of what the vessel was carrying, he posted a roughly 20-second video which appeared to show the vessel in water before being hit by at least one projectile and exploding.

Reuters was not able to independently verify the location or the date when the video was filmed. Upon checking the footage, no old results were found.

Trump said on Thursday (October 23) that his administration plans to brief the U.S. Congress on operations against drug cartels and that even though he did not need a declaration of war, operations against cartels on land would be next.

The U.S. military has been increasing its presence in the Caribbean, including deployments of guided-missile destroyers, F-35 fighter jets, a nuclear submarine and thousands of troops.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

The strike is the latest operation in President Donald Trump's counter-drug campaign in the region. Video credit: Secretary of War Pete Hegseth via X

VIDEO SHOWS: VIDEO SHOWING U.S. STRIKE AGAINST ALLEGED DRUG VESSEL IN CARIBBEAN

- Location and date not verified

RESENDING WITH COMPLETE SCRIPT

SHOWS: GIVEN AS CARIBBEAN SEA (RELEASED OCTOBER 24, 2025) (SECRETARY OF WAR PETE HEGSETH VIA X - Must on-screen courtesy Secretary of War Pete Hegseth via X) (MUTE)

1. MONOCHROME VIDEO SHOWING ALLEGED DRUG VESSEL IN CARIBBEAN SEA / STRIKE OF VESSEL AND SMOKE RISING / "UNCLASSIFIED" WORDING AT TOP OF VIDEO (ADDED AT SOURCE)