President Donald Trump announced that U.S. forces conducted a “lethal kinetic strike” on a vessel engaged in drug trafficking, resulting in the deaths of three individuals aboard. According to Trump, the attack was ordered after U.S. intelligence confirmed the vessel’s involvement in drug trafficking and took place in the U.S. Southern Command’s area of responsibility, which includes most of South America and the Caribbean. This marks the third strike against alleged drug boats in recent weeks.
Trump’s assertion, shared on Truth Social, indicated that the strike occurred in international waters. The previous two strikes in this campaign reportedly resulted in the deaths of 14 individuals on boats believed to be from Venezuela. Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has publicly condemned these strikes, asserting that Venezuela would defend itself against what he describes as U.S. “aggression.”
The announcement featured a video showing the vessel before the strike, depicting it traveling on water moments before it exploded. Trump stated, “On my Orders, the Secretary of War ordered a lethal kinetic strike on a vessel affiliated with a Designated Terrorist Organization conducting narcotrafficking in the USSOUTHCOM area of responsibility.” He also claimed that intelligence confirmed the vessel was transporting illicit narcotics, suggesting it could contribute to harming Americans.
In a concluding remark, he urged, “STOP SELLING FENTANYL, NARCOTICS, AND ILLEGAL DRUGS IN AMERICA, AND COMMITTING VIOLENCE AND TERRORISM AGAINST AMERICANS.” Legal experts have noted that such strikes in international waters could potentially conflict with international human rights and maritime law.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/crme4pv224wo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss