The US military conducted a strike on Thursday against a suspected drug vessel in the Caribbean, and for the first time in such operations, there were survivors among the crew, a US official told Reuters. The official, speaking anonymously, did not provide further details about the incident, which has not been previously reported.
The attack raises questions about whether the US military rendered aid to the survivors and whether they are now in US custody. The Pentagon, which labels those targeted as 'narcoterrorists', did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Prior to this operation, US strikes on suspected drug boats off Venezuela killed at least 27 people, drawing criticism from legal experts and Democratic lawmakers over adherence to the laws of war. The Trump administration argues the US is engaged in a war with narcoterrorist groups from Venezuela, justifying the strikes.
The strikes come amid a US military buildup in the Caribbean, including guided missile destroyers, F-35 fighter jets, a nuclear submarine, and about 6,500 troops, as Donald Trump escalates a standoff with the Venezuelan government. On Wednesday, Trump disclosed he had authorised the CIA to conduct covert operations in Venezuela.
Venezuela's UN ambassador, Samuel Moncada, has asked the UN Security Council to declare the US strikes illegal and issue a statement backing Venezuela's sovereignty. Less than a week ago, the Pentagon announced a new taskforce led by the II Marine Expeditionary Force would take over counter-narcotics operations in the region, a move that surprised military observers.
