US military forces conducted an operation resulting in the deaths of four individuals aboard a boat off the coast of Venezuela, which was reportedly engaged in drug trafficking. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated that the strike occurred in international waters while the vessel was transporting significant amounts of narcotics intended for the United States. This incident marks the latest in a series of strikes by the US against boats suspected of involvement in narcotics trafficking.
The operations have faced criticism from several countries, including Venezuela and Colombia, with some legal experts arguing that these strikes may violate international law. Hegseth indicated that the incident fell within the jurisdiction of the US Southern Command, which oversees much of South America and the Caribbean. He asserted that intelligence confirmed the vessel’s involvement in drug trafficking and described those onboard as “narco-terrorists” operating along known trafficking routes.
President Donald Trump corroborated the details of the attack, claiming that the vessel carried drugs capable of causing harm to thousands of individuals. However, the US government has not released specific evidence to support its allegations or provided details regarding the identities of those aboard the vessel.
Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has previously condemned the US strikes, asserting that his government will protect itself against what he terms US “aggression.” The recent attack is part of a broader trend, marking the fourth US operation of its kind within a month. A leaked memo to Congress has suggested that the US government now considers itself in a “non-international armed conflict” with drug cartels, which may pave the way for further military actions.
The characterization of the strikes as self-defense has raised legal questions, with many lawyers challenging their legitimacy. Furthermore, establishing the situation as an armed conflict might enable the administration to invoke more extensive wartime powers, similar to those used against terrorist organizations in the past. It remains unclear why the administration is classifying drug trafficking as an “armed attack” and which specific cartels are viewed as threats to the US.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cn0xvpxk9dqo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss