The U.S. military carried out another attack against a suspected drug trafficking vessel on Tuesday, a Pentagon official confirmed to CBS News The attack targeted a ship in the Caribbean Sea and resulted in the deaths of four people on board. Since September, US forces have destroyed at least 21 vessels in 20 attacks in international waters, with a death toll of at least 80. The Trump administration claims these operations are part of an offensive against drug trafficking.

The Pentagon has not released further information about this latest attack.

Previously, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth had stated that the attacks targeted “narco-terrorists” on known drug trafficking routes, although no specific evidence has been presented that the vessels were trafficking drugs or posed a threat to the United States.

The U.S. Department of Defense confirmed that the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Gerald Ford and other warships had entered the area of ??responsibility of Southern Command, which includes the Caribbean, increasing tension in the region.

Venezuela announced on Tuesday the start of a massive nationwide military exercise involving some 200,000 troops.

Many Venezuelans, including President Nicolas Maduro himself, and international observers believe that the Increased US military pressure aims to force Maduro from power.