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 claimed the vessel belonged to narcoterrorists and was trafficking narcotics. This is the fifth strike of its kind by the Trump administration on a boat accused of drug trafficking on international waters since September, resulting in a total of 27 fatalities with no further identification provided for the vessels or crews.
Legal experts have criticized the strikes, asserting they contravene international law, while neighboring nations like Colombia and Venezuela have voiced their condemnation.
Trump asserted, in his social media post, that intelligence confirmed the vessel's involvement in narcotics trafficking and its association with illicit networks. He supported this with an aerial surveillance video showing a missile strike on the boat.
Despite the casualties, Trump did not specify the nationalities of those onboard or the drug smuggling organization involved, emphasizing that no US military personnel were harmed in the operation.
This strike follows a recently leaked memo revealing the administration's classification of the US's engagement with drug cartels as a non-international armed conflict. Alongside military operations, multiple warships have been deployed to the Caribbean.
While US officials frame these actions as self-defense, the legality of the military operations continues to spark debate among legal scholars. The administration's approach suggests an attempt to justify escalating military responses, potentially including lethal measures against perceived threats without evidence of direct violent acts against US personnel.
Though drug trafficking is prevalent in Venezuela, many experts assert that the region is not a key hotspot compared to other areas. This has led to speculations that the strikes are part of a broader strategy to exert military pressure on President Nicolás Maduro.
The US recently offered a $50 million reward for information leading to the arrest of Maduro on drug trafficking charges, amid widespread international allegations questioning the legitimacy of his leadership.
In response, President Maduro has vehemently denied the accusations of drug involvement, and Venezuelan officials have raised doubts regarding the authenticity of the video released by Trump.
