The U.S. carried out another strike on a small boat suspected of transporting drugs near Venezuela, resulting in the deaths of six individuals, according to President Donald Trump. Those killed were on the vessel, and there were no casualties among U.S. forces, as confirmed by the president in a social media update. This incident marks the fifth lethal strike in the Caribbean as the Trump administration asserts that alleged drug traffickers are considered unlawful combatants and must face military action.
The strike was ordered by U.S. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth on Tuesday morning, as revealed by Trump, who shared a video of the operation, a practice he has done previously. Hegseth later posted the video on an online platform. The footage depicted a stationary small boat on the water being struck by a projectile from above, causing an explosion and subsequent fire on the vessel.
Trump stated that the strike took place in international waters and was based on intelligence indicating the boat was engaged in narcotics trafficking, linked to “narcoterrorist networks,” and operating along a well-known drug-trafficking route. The Pentagon did not respond immediately to a request for more details but confirmed the information in the social media post through an anonymous defense official.
The ongoing strikes could potentially impede counter-narcotics efforts, cautioned a former diplomat, James Story. He suggested that such actions may strain relationships with key allies like Colombia, hindering intelligence gathering necessary to combat drug trafficking organizations. Lawmakers on Capitol Hill, from both major political parties, have expressed growing frustration with the Trump administration’s approach. Republicans are seeking clarity on the legal basis and specifics of the strikes, while Democrats argue that the operations violate domestic and international laws.
Despite a Senate resolution attempting to restrict the administration from conducting such strikes without explicit congressional approval, it did not pass. The administration justified the strikes by asserting a non-international armed conflict with designated terrorist groups and directing military operations against them under the law of armed conflict. However, there has been no disclosure of evidence proving the drug-carrying nature of the targeted boats to lawmakers.
These military actions followed an increase in U.S. naval presence in the Caribbean not seen in recent years. Venezuelan Defence Minister Vladimir Padrino claimed that the U.S. accusations of drug trafficking were false and aimed at instigating regime change in Venezuela. Padrino warned of a potential escalation, emphasizing the abnormal and aggressive nature of the U.S. actions.
