Boat Was Not Headed to the US, Yet American Forces Attacked It; 11 Killed as Trump and Hegseth Face Scrutiny

Published on: 07 Dec 2025 at 12:32 PM

Published by: Gill Bikram

Boat Was Not Headed to the US, Yet American Forces Attacked It; 11 Killed as Trump and Hegseth Face Scrutiny

December 7, 2025 | 12:13 PM IST

US President Donald Trump’s aggressive campaign against drug trafficking from Venezuela has run into major controversy after fresh revelations emerged about a deadly naval operation carried out earlier this year. New details show that the boat targeted and destroyed by the US Navy on September 2 was not heading toward the United States, contradicting official claims made at the time.

According to the US government’s initial version, the boat was carrying narcotics and was en route to the US through international waters. The strike resulted in the sinking of the vessel and the deaths of all 11 people on board. President Trump later shared a video of the attack on social media, portraying it as a decisive blow against “narco-terrorists” threatening American lives.

However, a recent report by US news network CNN has cast serious doubt on that narrative. The report cites testimony given to US senators by the admiral who commanded the operation. The admiral reportedly stated that the boat was actually traveling toward a larger ship near Suriname, a South American country, and not toward the United States.

This disclosure is significant because common drug-trafficking routes originating from Suriname typically lead to Europe, not the US. While officials acknowledged it was theoretically possible that the drugs could later have been diverted toward America, they admitted there was no direct evidence that the small boat itself was bound for US territory.

Despite this, the US Navy carried out a lethal strike, killing all 11 passengers on board.

Trump’s Claims Under Question

After the operation, President Trump posted footage of the strike and wrote that the attack was carried out against “identified narco-terrorists” who were transporting drugs from Venezuela to the US. He described narcotics as “a poison killing Americans” and called drug cartels a direct threat to US national security, foreign policy, and vital American interests. Trump claimed that three “male terrorists” were killed in the operation.

The new revelations now raise serious questions about the accuracy of those claims and the intelligence used to justify the strike.

Pressure Grows on Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth

The controversy has also intensified pressure on US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who reportedly authorized the mission. According to the CNN report, the admiral told lawmakers that his understanding of the mission was that all 11 individuals on board were to be killed and the boat destroyed.

Lawmakers are now demanding greater transparency, including the release of the full, unedited video footage of the strike. Critics argue that the incident may represent a grave misuse of military force in international waters and a violation of international norms.

Troubles Mount for Hegseth

The episode further adds to Defense Secretary Hegseth’s growing list of problems. He is already facing allegations of leaking sensitive information about US military positions to Houthi rebels through encrypted Signal chats—claims that have intensified scrutiny of his conduct and judgment at the Pentagon.

As investigations widen, both President Trump and Defense Secretary Hegseth are facing mounting political and legal pressure, with lawmakers questioning whether the deadly strike was based on flawed intelligence, excessive force, or deliberate misrepresentation of facts.