US strikes another vessel off Venezuela coast, killing six
The United States struck another ship off the coast of Venezuela on Tuesday, killing six people, President Donald Trump said.
In an article on Truth Social, Trump said the ship was owned by “narcoterrorists” and was “trafficking narcotics.”
It is the fifth such strike carried out by the Trump administration against a boat accused of drug trafficking in international waters since September. A total of 27 people were reported killed, but the United States has not provided any evidence or details about the identities of the ships or people on board.
Some lawyers have accused the United States of violating international law, and neighboring countries such as Colombia and Venezuela have condemned the strikes.
In his Truth Social article, Trump said that “intelligence confirmed that the vessel was trafficking narcotics, associated with illicit narcoterrorist networks, and transiting a known route” for smuggling.
He also released aerial surveillance video showing a small boat on the water being hit by a missile and exploding.
Trump did not specify the nationality of those on board, or to which drug trafficking organization they are suspected of belonging. He added that no U.S. service members were injured.
The strike follows a recent leaked memo sent to Congress and reported by US media, which said the administration had determined that the United States was engaged in a “non-international armed conflict” with drug cartels.
She also deployed several warships to the Caribbean.
The United States has positioned its strikes against suspected drug-trafficking ships as a measure of self-defense. Many lawyers question the legality of such military action.
Presenting this as an active armed conflict is likely Trump’s way of justifying the use of more extreme war powers – for example killing “enemy combatants” even if they did not pose a violent threat, or detaining people indefinitely.
While it is true that some drug trafficking takes place in Venezuela and some cartels operate in the region where some of these vessels are believed to have originated, that country is not considered a drug trafficking hot spot compared to other places in the region.
As a result, many believe this is part of a broader political campaign to put military pressure on Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.
The strikes come after the US announced a $50m (£37m) reward for information leading to the arrest of Maduro – whose election as leader was widely rejected by the international community – on drug trafficking charges.
The Venezuelan government has reacted angrily to previous recent strikes.
Maduro denies US accusations that he is involved in drug trafficking, while another official questioned the veracity of images released by Trump.
