US forces have killed four people in an attack on a boat off the coast of Venezuela that was allegedly trafficking drugs, Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth says. The strike was conducted in international waters just off the coast of Venezuela while the vessel was transporting substantial amounts of narcotics - headed to America to poison our people, Hegseth wrote in a post on X. This is the latest in a number of recent deadly strikes that the US has carried out on boats in international waters it says are involved in 'narco-trafficking'. The strikes have attracted condemnation in countries including Venezuela and Colombia, with some international lawyers describing the strikes as a breach of international law.
Hegseth said the attack took place in the US Southern Command's area of responsibility, which covers most of South America and the Caribbean. Our intelligence, without a doubt, confirmed that this vessel was trafficking narcotics, the people onboard were narco-terrorists, and they were operating on a known narco-trafficking transit route, Hegseth said about Friday's attack. These strikes will continue until the attacks on the American people are over!!!!
US President Trump also confirmed the strike on his Truth Social platform, saying that the boat was carrying enough drugs 'to kill 25 to 50 thousand people'. However, the US has not provided evidence for its claims or any information about the identities of those on board. There was no immediate response from Venezuela but its president, Nicolás Maduro, has previously condemned the strikes and said his country will defend itself against US 'aggression'.
Friday's fatal attack is the fourth by the US in a month. Trump also indicated that there had been multiple similar actions against drug trafficking operations during this period. A leaked memo sent to Congress suggested the US now considers itself in a 'non-international armed conflict' with drug cartels, raising the possibility of continued military action. Critics point out that framing this situation as an active armed conflict could lead to the justification of extreme wartime powers, allowing lethal force against suspected enemies without proof of direct threats.
This series of events marks a significant escalation in US military operations against drug trafficking and poses complex legal and diplomatic challenges for the Biden administration amidst ongoing global debates about security and human rights.}
Hegseth said the attack took place in the US Southern Command's area of responsibility, which covers most of South America and the Caribbean. Our intelligence, without a doubt, confirmed that this vessel was trafficking narcotics, the people onboard were narco-terrorists, and they were operating on a known narco-trafficking transit route, Hegseth said about Friday's attack. These strikes will continue until the attacks on the American people are over!!!!
US President Trump also confirmed the strike on his Truth Social platform, saying that the boat was carrying enough drugs 'to kill 25 to 50 thousand people'. However, the US has not provided evidence for its claims or any information about the identities of those on board. There was no immediate response from Venezuela but its president, Nicolás Maduro, has previously condemned the strikes and said his country will defend itself against US 'aggression'.
Friday's fatal attack is the fourth by the US in a month. Trump also indicated that there had been multiple similar actions against drug trafficking operations during this period. A leaked memo sent to Congress suggested the US now considers itself in a 'non-international armed conflict' with drug cartels, raising the possibility of continued military action. Critics point out that framing this situation as an active armed conflict could lead to the justification of extreme wartime powers, allowing lethal force against suspected enemies without proof of direct threats.
This series of events marks a significant escalation in US military operations against drug trafficking and poses complex legal and diplomatic challenges for the Biden administration amidst ongoing global debates about security and human rights.}
