The United States has confirmed conducting at least five military strikes on vessels near Venezuela, claiming they were involved in drug trafficking, resulting in the deaths of at least 27 individuals. A sixth strike occurred recently against a suspected drug vessel in the Caribbean, where some crew members survived and are now being held on a Navy ship. The U. S. government has stated that some victims were Venezuelan, while Colombian President Gustavo Petro has indicated that some may have been Colombian. Families in Trinidad are demanding evidence regarding one individual’s alleged involvement in drug trafficking.
Venezuela’s government denounces these strikes as illegal and claims they amount to murder and aggression. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro accuses U. S. President Donald Trump of aiming for regime change, which Trump downplayed.
The summary of U. S. strikes includes:
– September 2: 11 killed on a Venezuelan vessel.
– September 15: 3 killed on a drug cartel vessel.
– September 19: 3 killed on a drug vessel.
– October 3: 4 killed near the Venezuelan coast.
– October 14: 6 suspected traffickers killed.
– October 16: Strikes resulted in survivors among the crew.
with information from Reuters
