The United States conducted another operation targeting a small boat suspected of transporting drugs in the waters near Venezuela, resulting in the deaths of six individuals, according to President Donald Trump. The casualties were all on board the vessel, with no harm to U.S. personnel, as confirmed by the president in a social media post. This incident marks the fifth lethal operation in the Caribbean, as the Trump administration asserts its approach of considering alleged drug traffickers as unlawful combatants subject to military action.
President Trump revealed that the strike, ordered by U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Tuesday morning, was captured in a video released by him and subsequently shared by Hegseth. The video footage displayed a small boat stationary on the water being struck by a projectile from above, resulting in an explosion and subsequent flames.
The President stated that the operation took place in international waters, with intelligence confirming the vessel’s involvement in drug trafficking activities linked to “narcoterrorist networks” along a known drug trafficking route. While the Pentagon did not immediately respond to inquiries for further details, a defense official corroborated the information shared on social media anonymously.
Former diplomat James Story expressed concerns that such operations could impede counter-narcotics efforts by straining relationships with key allies like Colombia, potentially hindering intelligence gathering crucial for combating drug trafficking organizations. Lawmakers, both Republican and Democrat, have exhibited growing discontent with the Trump administration’s tactics, with calls for more transparency and legal justifications behind the strikes.
In response to the escalating tensions, the U.S. Senate recently considered a war powers resolution aimed at restricting the administration’s authority to conduct such operations without explicit congressional approval. However, the resolution failed to pass, as the administration maintains its stance of engaging in operations against designated terrorist organizations involved in drug trafficking in accordance with the law of armed conflict.
Venezuelan Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino criticized the U.S., alleging that the accusations of drug trafficking are false and serve as a pretext for destabilizing the current regime. He warned of potential escalation due to the increased presence of U.S. warships in the region, characterizing the actions of the U.S. as irrational, warmongering, and aimed at regime change.
