The US has struck another vessel off the coast of Venezuela, killing six people, President Donald Trump has said.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump stated that the vessel belonged to narcoterrorists and was involved in drug trafficking.
This action marks the fifth strike of its kind by the Trump administration targeting alleged drug trafficking boats since September, with a reported total of 27 fatalities. However, the US has not provided further details on the identities of the vessels or those aboard.
Some lawyers criticize the US operations as breaches of international law, while neighboring countries, including Colombia and Venezuela, have condemned these strikes.
In his statement, Trump noted, intelligence confirms the vessel was trafficking narcotics, was tied to illicit narcoterrorist networks, and was on a known smuggling route. He shared an aerial surveillance video of the missile strike, which resulted in an explosion.
Importantly, Trump did not reveal the nationality of the victims or the specific drug trafficking organization involved. He added that no US servicemen were injured in the assault.
The strike follows a previously leaked memo indicating that the administration had acknowledged a non-international armed conflict with drug cartels.
The US has characterized these operations as acts of self-defense, despite ongoing legal scrutiny regarding their legitimacy.
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