President Donald Trump has said US forces carried out a lethal kinetic strike on a vessel which he claimed was trafficking drugs, resulting in the deaths of three male narcoterrorists aboard.
The president stated that he authorized the strike, occurring in the US Southern Command's area of responsibility, after intelligence confirmed the vessel was involved in drug trafficking. This marks the third such attack on alleged drug boats in recent weeks.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump specified that the strike took place in international waters and highlighted the expansive area covered by the US Southern Command, which encompasses much of South America and the Caribbean. Previous strikes have reportedly resulted in 14 deaths from boats suspected to originate from Venezuela.
The actions have drawn sharp condemnation from Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, who has vowed that his country will resist US aggression.
Trump's latest announcement bears similarities to earlier statements regarding military strikes. He shared a video showing the vessel before and after the strike, illustrating its explosion in the water.
On my Orders, the Secretary of War ordered a lethal kinetic strike on a vessel affiliated with a Designated Terrorist Organization conducting narcotrafficking in the USSOUTHCOM area of responsibility, Trump stated. He indicated that intelligence had validated the vessel's involvement in trafficking substances that contribute to the opioid crisis in the US.
Trump emphasized that no US Forces were injured in the incident, calling for an end to the sale of fentanyl and other illegal drugs in America, while also labeling these activities as acts of violence and terrorism against American citizens.
Legal analysts have raised concerns regarding the potential violations of international human rights and maritime regulations related to such strikes conducted in international waters.
