The United States conducted another operation targeting a small boat suspected of carrying drugs near Venezuela, resulting in the deaths of six individuals, as confirmed by President Donald Trump. The individuals killed were on the boat, and there were no casualties among U.S. forces, according to the president’s statement on social media. This incident marks the fifth lethal operation in the Caribbean region, reflecting the Trump administration’s approach of considering alleged drug traffickers as unlawful combatants to be confronted with military action.
President Trump disclosed that the strike was authorized by U.S. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth on Tuesday morning, with a video of the operation being released. The video depicted a small boat stationary on the water before being struck by a projectile from above, leading to an explosion and subsequent fire on the vessel. Trump emphasized that the operation took place in international waters and was based on intelligence confirming the boat’s involvement in narcotics trafficking and its links to “narcoterrorist networks” along a known drug-trafficking route.
Regarding the legality and impact of such operations, former diplomat James Story expressed concerns that these strikes could impede efforts against drug trafficking by straining relationships with key allies like Colombia and diminishing intelligence-gathering capabilities. Lawmakers on Capitol Hill, including members of both major parties, have shown increasing frustration with the Trump administration’s actions. While some Republicans are demanding clarity on the legal rationale and specifics of the strikes, Democrats argue that the operations violate domestic and international laws.
In response to mounting criticism, the Trump administration has justified its actions by asserting that the U.S. is engaged in a non-international armed conflict with designated terrorist organizations involved in drug trafficking. However, the administration has not yet provided concrete evidence to lawmakers proving the drug-related activities of the targeted boats. The heightened tensions have prompted warnings from Venezuelan Defence Minister Vladimir Padrino, who accused the U.S. of pursuing a regime change agenda under the guise of combating drug trafficking, cautioning against escalating hostilities.
