A U.S. Navy commander has confirmed a second round of strikes on a vessel accused of drug trafficking in Venezuela, as noted by the White House. This “double tap” attack on September 2 has faced bipartisan scrutiny from lawmakers, especially after reports indicated that two individuals survived the initial strike and were killed in the subsequent attack, raising legal implications regarding the actions taken.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth authorized the strikes but denied claims that he ordered all individuals aboard to be killed. Leavitt affirmed that Admiral Frank Bradley operated within the law when directing the additional strike. Since early September, similar operations in the Caribbean have resulted in over 80 fatalities; however, U.S. officials have not provided clear evidence regarding drug trafficking activities associated with each incident.
Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have expressed concerns about the legality of the strikes, and both the Senate and House Armed Services Committees have announced investigations to obtain comprehensive details about the September strikes. They plan to interview Bradley and seek relevant audio and video documentation of the orders given during the operation.
The Trump administration asserts that these military actions are part of a self-defense strategy against what it designates as “narco-terrorists.” The U.S. claims that its operations in the Caribbean represent a non-international armed conflict with drug traffickers, but experts have questioned the legality of attacking vulnerable individuals under international law, particularly protections granted to wounded combatants.
Venezuela’s National Assembly has condemned the strikes and called for an investigation. The Venezuelan government alleges that U.S. actions are aimed at destabilizing its government. Recent communications between President Donald Trump and Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro have included discussions about resignation and control over Venezuelan military forces. U.S. officials continue to accuse Maduro of involvement in drug trafficking organizations, which he denies.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c0r95q9kv1go?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss