The U. S. military has rescued two survivors from a suspected drug vessel in the Caribbean following a strike that killed two others. These survivors may become the first prisoners of war in President Trump’s declared conflict against “narcoterrorists” from Venezuela. The Pentagon has not commented on this situation. The attacked vessel was likely a semi-submersible, often used by drug traffickers. A helicopter rescue was conducted to bring the survivors to a U. S. warship. Prior military strikes against drug boats had not produced known survivors, and past actions reportedly resulted in 27 deaths, raising concerns about legality among legal experts and Democratic lawmakers.
These military actions coincide with an increased U. S. military presence in the Caribbean, including guided missile destroyers, F-35 jets, a nuclear submarine, and around 6,500 troops. Trump has also authorized the CIA to carry out covert operations in Venezuela, fueling speculation about efforts to oust President Maduro. Venezuela’s U. N. Ambassador has requested a U. N. assessment of the legality of U. S. strikes, affirming Venezuela’s sovereignty.
The Pentagon recently notified Congress that the U. S. is involved in a “non-international armed conflict. ” In a surprising shift, the Pentagon announced that the II Marine Expeditionary Force will lead counter-narcotics operations in the region instead of the Southern Command, which typically oversees military actions in Latin America. Additionally, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced that the U. S. Southern Command’s admiral would step down early at the end of this year.
with information from Reuters
