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 labeled the vessel as belonging to narcoterrorists and accused it of trafficking narcotics. This operation is the fifth of its kind by the Trump administration, targeting boats accused of drug trafficking in international waters since September. Reports indicate that a total of 27 individuals have been killed, though the US has yet to provide evidence or details regarding the identities of the vessels or those onboard.
Legal experts have suggested that such acts may violate international law, and neighboring nations, including Colombia and Venezuela, have condemned these strikes.
Trump further stated that intelligence confirmed the vessel's involvement in drug trafficking and its connection to illicit narcoterrorist networks, referencing a known smuggling route. In his post, he shared aerial surveillance footage displaying a small boat being struck by a missile and exploding.
Despite the severity of the incident, Trump did not disclose the nationalities of the individuals aboard or the drug trafficking organizations suspected. He assured there were no US military casualties. This strike follows a recent leaked memo outlining the administration's stance that the US is engaged in a non-international armed conflict against drug cartels.
Positioning these strikes as acts of self-defense, the US faces scrutinity over the legality of such military actions against purported drug-traffickers.
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