The US has struck another vessel off the coast of Venezuela on Tuesday, killing six people, President Donald Trump has said.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump stated the vessel belonged to narcoterrorists and was involved in trafficking narcotics. This operation is the fifth of its kind by the Trump administration targeting boats accused of drug trafficking on international waters since September, bringing the total number of reported casualties to 27. However, the US has not disclosed details about the identities of the vessels or those aboard.
Critics, including some legal experts, have accused the US of breaching international law, while neighboring countries like Colombia and Venezuela have condemned the strikes. In his post, Trump claimed that intelligence confirmed the vessel was trafficking narcotics, was associated with illicit narcoterrorist networks, and was transiting along a known smuggling route.
Trump also shared an aerial video showing a small boat being struck by a missile and exploding. He did not specify the nationality of those on board or the drug trafficking organization they are suspected to be linked to, adding that no US military personnel were harmed in the attack.
This strike follows a leaked memo to Congress stating that the administration regarded the US as being in a non-international armed conflict with drug cartels, prompting the deployment of multiple warships to the Caribbean.
Despite the claims of self-defense framing, many lawyers question the legality of these strikes. The current rhetoric may be a tactic for Trump to invoke more extreme wartime powers, including the ability to target enemy fighters without a direct threat.
While drug trafficking is acknowledged in Venezuela, the country is not viewed as a hotspot compared to other regions. Many observers suggest that these strikes may be part of a broader political strategy to pressure Venezuela's President Nicolás Maduro, amidst a $50 million reward for information leading to his arrest on drug trafficking charges.
Venezuelan officials, including President Maduro, have vehemently denied US accusations, disputing the authenticity of the footage released by Trump.
