**White House Confirms Second Strike on Venezuelan Boat in Recent U.S. Operation**
The White House has confirmed that a Venezuelan boat suspected of drug trafficking was struck twice by U.S. forces during an incident on September 2. This revelation comes after growing questions about the military operation, which occurred in the Caribbean near South America.
According to statements released within the last 24 hours, U.S. officials initially stated that the strike was a single incident involving a targeted smuggling vessel. However, the National Security Council clarified that there were two separate strikes ordered during the enforcement action.
The targeted boat was believed to be carrying narcotics and potentially assisting illegal trafficking routes between South America and the U.S. Naval sources confirmed the operation involved a drone and maritime patrol units. The decision for a second strike was reportedly based on surveillance showing continued activity on the vessel after the first hit.
The Pentagon said intelligence suggested the boat posed a clear threat and that both strikes followed military rules of engagement. There were no U.S. personnel injured, and the vessel was later seen burning in the water, although it’s unclear how many individuals were on board. Authorities are still trying to confirm identities and casualties.
International reaction has been cautious. Venezuela’s government has not issued an official response yet, but previous similar incidents have triggered diplomatic protests. U.S. officials say the action falls under broader efforts to stop narcotics smuggling networks operating in the Caribbean and Latin America.
The timeline and communication around the strike are under review, following criticism from lawmakers demanding more transparency. Some congressional leaders are calling for a classified briefing to better understand the chain of decisions made before and after the strikes.
The White House maintains the operation was legal and justified but admits more accurate information should have been shared earlier. The event points to rising regional tensions as U.S. forces increase counter-smuggling efforts.
Investigations into how intelligence was gathered and decisions were approved are ongoing. As of now, no further operations in the region have been reported.
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