Trump Confirms U.S. Will Launch Land Strikes on Narco-Terrorists: “We Know Where They Live”
Trump told his Cabinet on Tuesday that the Pentagon will soon begin striking narco?terrorist targets on land, expanding the military’s current naval operations in the Caribbean.
During the meeting, Trump said drug traffickers are responsible for killing roughly 200,000 Americans each year and that “Operation Southern Spear” will now move beyond maritime interdictions.
“We’re going to start doing those strikes on land too,” Trump said. “The land is much easier. We know the routes they take. We know everything about them. We know where they live. We know where the bad ones live, and we’re going to start that very soon.”
NEW: Trump says he will begin striking narco-terrorists by land.
“We’re going to start doing those strikes on land too. You know, the land is much easier… we know where the bad ones live.” pic.twitter.com/Sb7W1DBnEn
— Kassy Akiva (@KassyAkiva) December 2, 2025
Trump added that any country participating in narcotics trafficking could be targeted, naming Colombia and Venezuela. “Venezuela has been very bad,” he said, adding that other countries are contributing to the problem as well.
He said maritime drug flow has already dropped by more than 90 percent due to recent naval strikes, claiming the operations have saved “hundreds of thousands of lives” and warning traffickers that the campaign is just getting started.
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth echoed Trump’s comments, saying the administration has “only just begun” and promising that drug traffickers “poisoning the American people” would end up “at the bottom of the ocean.”
NEW: Secretary Pete Hegseth says U.S. has “only just begun” sinking narco-terrorist vessels. pic.twitter.com/UYo7ffvzfF
— Kassy Akiva (@KassyAkiva) December 2, 2025
The U.S. military has significantly increased its presence in the Caribbean as part of Operation Southern Spear. The USS Gerald R. Ford deployed to the region last month, joining more than a dozen warships and more than 15,000 troops. Reports say over 80 people have been killed in recent strikes on suspected drug vessels.
On Sunday, Trump warned that Venezuelan airspace should be considered closed. “To all Airlines, Pilots, Drug Dealers, and Human Traffickers, please consider the airspace above and surrounding Venezuela to be closed in its entirety,” he wrote on Truth Social.
Flights have continued through Venezuelan airspace despite the warning. The Maduro regime condemned Trump’s message as a “colonialist threat,” arguing that no foreign nation has the authority to control airspace over Venezuela.
Trump has labeled Nicolás Maduro the leader of the Cartel de Los Soles and has been pressuring him to step down. Trump confirmed he has spoken directly with Maduro but did not disclose details.
Pope Leo commented on the situation Tuesday while speaking to reporters, urging the United States to avoid invading Venezuela. “It seems there is the possibility of an operation to invade Venezuelan territory,” Leo said. “I believe it is better to look for ways of dialogue or economic pressure rather than military action.”