The U.S. has conducted 14 strikes against vessels near Venezuela and in the eastern Pacific Ocean since September, resulting in at least 69 fatalities, according to the U.S. defense secretary. Allegations have been made that these boats were involved in drug trafficking; however, this claim remains unsubstantiated as foreign leaders, legal experts, and family members of the victims seek evidence. The United Nations human rights chief has denounced these strikes as violations of international law, while Venezuela has labeled them as illegal acts of aggression. President Nicolas Maduro has accused President Donald Trump of attempting regime change, a charge which Trump has minimized despite reports of U.S. support for opposition forces in Venezuela.
In response to the U.S. military buildup, Maduro has fortified security measures and mobilized troops throughout Venezuela. The victims of these strikes include Venezuelans and Colombians, with some families demanding proof of the deceased’s alleged drug trafficking activities. A chronological summary of the strikes includes several incidents:
– September 2: 11 killed on a vessel allegedly carrying illegal drugs; the Venezuelan government denies they were part of a gang.
– September 15: 3 fatalities on a drug vessel in international waters.
– September 19: Another strike kills 3 men; no evidence provided.
– October 3: 4 killed in a strike off the Venezuelan coast.
– October 14: 6 fatalities in a claim of targeting drug traffickers.
– October 16: 2 killed; survivors returned home, with little evidence for detainment.
– October 17: 3 killed; Colombian President disputes the U.S. claim about the vessel’s ownership.
– October 21: 5 deaths in the first military operation against alleged smugglers in the Pacific.
– October 24: 6 fatalities; linked to the Tren de Aragua gang.
– October 27: 14 killed across three strikes, leaving a survivor.
– October 29: 4 killed in another alleged drug vessel strike.
– November 1: 3 fatalities aboard a suspected drug trafficking ship.
– November 4: 2 killed in the Eastern Pacific.
– November 6: 3 killed on a vessel tied to a designated terrorist group.
These military actions have sparked significant controversy and criticism regarding their legality and justification.
US Military Strikes Kill 69, Igniting Calls for International Investigation
The U.S. has conducted 14 strikes against vessels near Venezuela and in the eastern Pacific Ocean since September, resulting in at least 69 fatalities, according to the U.S. defense secretary.
