The United States has carried out another strike against a vessel off the coast of Venezuela, resulting in the deaths of six individuals, according to President Donald Trump. In a post on Truth Social, Trump stated that the vessel was linked to “narcoterrorists” and was engaged in drug trafficking.
This incident marks the fifth such strike by the Trump administration on boats accused of drug trafficking since September. Reports indicate that a total of 27 people have died in these actions, though the U.S. government has not provided evidence or details regarding the identities of the vessels or those aboard.
Concerns about the legality of these strikes have been raised by some lawyers, while neighboring countries, including Colombia and Venezuela, have voiced their condemnation. In his statement, Trump claimed that “intelligence confirmed the vessel was trafficking narcotics” and associated with known illicit drug networks, highlighting that it was traveling along a recognized smuggling route.
In addition, Trump shared an aerial video depicting a missile striking a small boat, which resulted in an explosion. However, he did not specify the nationality of the individuals on board or the drug trafficking organization they may be connected to. He also noted that no U.S. military personnel were injured in the strike.
This recent action follows a leaked memo to Congress, which reportedly stated that the U.S. administration has classified its ongoing actions against drug cartels as a “non-international armed conflict.” The strikes have been characterized by the U.S. as acts of self-defense, despite ongoing debates regarding their compliance with international law.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cg51625lmmgo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss