<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The US military has struck another small boat accused of carrying drugs in the waters off Venezuela, killing six people, President Donald Trump said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Those who died in the strike were aboard the vessel, and no US forces were harmed, the president said in a social media post.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>It's the fifth deadly strike in the Caribbean as Trump's administration has asserted it's treating alleged drug traffickers as unlawful combatants who must be met with military force.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/derryn-hinch-former-senator-radio-tv-personality-in-hospital/8a589638-7e53-47e8-a3c5-5a1ec45a0200" target="_blank"><strong><span>Veteran broadcaster Derryn Hinch hospitalised after fall</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>US War Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered the strike on Tuesday morning, while Trump released a video of it, as he had in the past. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Hegseth later shared the video in a post on X.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The black-and-white video showed a small boat that appeared stationary on the water. </span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/world/trump-says-boat-strike-off-venezuela-killed-drug-smugglers/2b5bc008-801f-48a3-bb0c-3862bd9949bc" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Seconds into the video, it is struck by a projectile from overhead and explodes. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The boat is then seen floating aflame for several seconds.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Trump said the strike was conducted in international waters and "intelligence" confirmed the vessel was trafficking narcotics, was associated with "narcoterrorist networks" and was on a known drug trafficking route.</span></div></div><div class="tweet" data-tweet-id="1978155508960813249?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" data-user="9NewsAUS"></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The Pentagon did not immediately respond to an email from The Associated Press seeking more information on the latest boat strike, but one defence official confirmed that the details in the social media post were accurate.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Frustration with the Trump administration has been growing on Capitol Hill among members of both major political parties. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Some Republicans are seeking more information from the White House on the legal justification and details of the strikes. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Democrats contend the strikes violate US and international law.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The Senate last week voted on a war powers resolution that would have barred the Trump administration from conducting the strikes unless Congress specifically authorised them, but it failed to pass.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/halloween-decorations-sydney-councils-call-for-environmentally-friendly-decorations/6302e443-ef05-4dad-a9a0-e0a87f214eda" target="_blank"><strong><span>Sydney councils issue warning against Halloween decorations</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The Trump administration has yet to provide underlying evidence to legislators proving that the boats targeted by the US military in a series of fatal strikes were in fact carrying narcotics, according to two US officials familiar with the matter who were not authorised to comment publicly and spoke on the condition of anonymity.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The strikes followed a buildup of American maritime forces in the Caribbean unlike any seen in recent times.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Last week, Venezuelan Defence Minister Vladimir Padrino told military leaders that the US government knows the drug-trafficking accusations used to support the recent actions in the Caribbean are false, with its true intent being to "force a regime change" in the South American country.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>He added that the Venezuelan government does not see the deployment of the US warships as a mere "propaganda-like action" and warned of a possible escalation.</span></div></div>