The United States killed four people in a strike against a vessel allegedly carrying illegal drugs, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said on Friday, at least the fourth such attack in recent weeks.

US President Donald Trump has determined the United States is engaged in “a non-international armed conflict” with drug cartels, according to a congressional notification this week.

In a post on social media, Hegseth said the latest strike was carried out in international waters, just off the coast of Venezuela.

“These strikes will continue until the attacks on the American people are over!!!!,” Hegseth said.

In a nearly 40-second video shared by Hegseth, a vessel can be seen moving through the water before a web of projectiles simultaneously appear to hit the boat and the water, causing the boat to explode on impact.

Hegseth said, without providing evidence, that the intelligence “without a doubt” confirmed that the vessel was carrying drugs and that the people on board were “narco-terrorists”.