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 drug-trafficking vessel strikes in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific. Since 2025, U.S. forces have conducted dozens of strikes against drug boats, killing over 160 people, with President Trump explicitly linking these methods to potential actions against Iranian vessels. The Trump administration’s blockade of Iranian ports has intensified tensions as Iran’s remaining fast-attack boat fleet poses a strategic threat.