Washington Declares War on "Iran-Hezbollah Empire" in Venezuela

In a new strategic move, Fox News revealed that a U.S. strike on a drug-laden vessel in the Caribbean on Tuesday is part of a broader campaign to dismantle what it described as the "growing Iran-Hezbollah empire" in Venezuela's drug trade.

Brian Townsend, a retired U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) official, told the American network, "This was a decisive blow against terrorists involved in drug trafficking." He added that Hezbollah launders money and provides networks that help cartels transfer funds across the Middle East. "Simply put, they take a cut of the drug trade that then funds their operations in the region."

Townsend also noted that Hezbollah has become the "primary financier and money launderer for drug-related terror groups like Tren de Aragua." He explained that the partnership between Iran and Venezuela serves both sides. "Iran's partnership with Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro allows Hezbollah to operate safely in Venezuela. Iran can operate safely through Hezbollah, while Maduro and his officials get a huge payday... In the end, Iran uses and exploits Maduro. And Maduro and his friends benefit financially."

U.S. officials state that the "Tren de Aragua" gang (classified by the U.S. as a terrorist organization) works closely with the "Cartel of the Suns," a network of Venezuelan military elites accused of trafficking cocaine in collaboration with Hezbollah.

Danny Citrinowicz, a senior fellow at the Israeli Institute for National Security Studies, said Hezbollah uses family ties, language, and community institutions to consolidate its influence across Latin America. "Through these networks, Hezbollah can interact with local cartels, sell drugs, and transfer profits back to Lebanon through complex schemes." He added that this role as a link makes Hezbollah indispensable to Iran's strategy in the Western Hemisphere. "The connection begins and ends with animosity towards the West in general, and specifically the United States."

Both experts pointed to Venezuela's involvement as a key enabler. Townsend said, "Under Maduro and Chávez, Venezuela became a major hub for transshipping Colombian cocaine." He added, "There have been several U.S. indictments and OFAC designations directly linking senior government officials to using state infrastructure—ports, air bases, and even military convoys—to move massive cocaine shipments. The Cartel of the Suns, high-ranking military commanders, run and protect these shipments. And who launders all this drug money? Hezbollah."

Citrinowicz also noted that Iran has invested heavily in strengthening political structures in Venezuela through military cooperation, including Iranian factories building drones for the Venezuelan military, and continuous flights from Iran to Venezuela. He also said Iran teaches Venezuela how to evade sanctions and has invested billions in its economy.

Citrinowicz agreed that the recent military strike is part of a broader effort. "By weakening Maduro, the U.S. weakens the Iranian presence in Latin America and diminishes Iran's ability to threaten American territory." Townsend stressed that Washington's best leverage lies in targeting financial networks. "We need to hit these financial networks decisively."

U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Tuesday that the U.S. military targeted a boat transporting drugs, killing 11 "narco-terrorists" from the Venezuelan criminal cartel "Tren de Aragua," which Washington classifies as a "terrorist organization." Washington accuses Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro of leading a drug trafficking network known as the "Cartel of the Suns."