Post by : Rameen Ariff

Washington: The United States carried out a military strike on a small boat near Venezuela, killing six people, President Donald Trump confirmed on Tuesday. According to Trump, the vessel was allegedly involved in drug trafficking, linked to narcoterrorist networks, and was traveling along a known drug smuggling route. No U.S. personnel were harmed during the operation.

The strike was ordered by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth early Tuesday morning. Trump released a video of the attack on social media, showing the boat being hit by a projectile from above and exploding into flames. Hegseth later shared the video in a separate post on X. The footage showed the vessel stationary before the projectile struck, causing a massive explosion and leaving the boat ablaze.

Trump stated that the strike occurred in international waters and was based on intelligence confirming the boat’s involvement in drug trafficking. He emphasized that the U.S. treats alleged drug traffickers as unlawful combatants who must face military action. This marks the fifth lethal strike in the Caribbean under Trump’s administration.

The Pentagon has not released further details, and inquiries sent by news agencies received no immediate response. However, a defense official confirmed that the basic facts presented by Trump and Hegseth were accurate.

The strikes have drawn criticism from Capitol Hill, with lawmakers from both parties questioning the legal justification. Democrats argue that the operations may violate U.S. and international law, while some Republicans have requested additional information from the White House. Last week, the Senate voted on a war powers resolution that would have barred the administration from conducting strikes without congressional approval, though the resolution failed to pass.

The Trump administration maintains that it is engaged in a non-international armed conflict with designated narcoterrorist organizations and is legally authorized to target them under the law of armed conflict. Nevertheless, the administration has not provided concrete evidence proving that the targeted boats were actually carrying drugs, according to U.S. officials speaking on condition of anonymity.

California Senator Adam Schiff, a Democrat, criticized the strikes, warning that the ongoing operations — which have killed 27 people to date — could escalate into a full-scale war. He vowed to push for additional congressional votes if the strikes continue.

The strikes come after a significant U.S. military buildup in the Caribbean, reportedly the largest in recent years. Venezuelan Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino condemned the operations, calling the U.S. claims about drug trafficking “false” and accusing the administration of attempting to force a regime change. Padrino warned Venezuelans to prepare for potential escalation, describing the U.S. actions as “anti-political, anti-human, warmongering, rude, and vulgar.”

The situation highlights rising tensions in the Caribbean, with the Trump administration asserting a strong military posture to combat alleged drug trafficking, while Venezuela warns of possible conflict escalation.

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