US eyes Iran fast boats with ‘kill’ tactics tested in Venezuela drug-boat strikes

The U.S. is preparing to counter Iran's fast-attack boats in the Strait of Hormuz using tactics tested in strikes against drug-trafficking vessels in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific. Since September 2025, U.S. forces have conducted deadly operations against cartel-linked boats, killing over 160 people, and President Trump has explicitly warned of applying similar 'kill' tactics to Iranian vessels. The Trump administration's blockade of Iranian ports has intensified tensions, as Iran's remaining naval threat focuses on small, fast-moving boats.