U.S. conducts another Caribbean boat strike, detains some survivors

"The U.S. military killed an unspecified number of suspected drug traffickers transiting the Caribbean Sea near Venezuela on Thursday, an attack that left some survivors, according to people familiar with the matter. U.S. forces took multiple people into custody and have detained them aboard a Navy vessel in the region, people familiar with the matter said. All spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss an operation that has not been announced publicly."

"To date, the Trump administration has disclosed the deaths of 27 people it has accused of being drug smugglers. Thursday's strike marks the sixth known attack on suspected drug boats near Venezuela since September. The operation raises significant new questions about the legality of President Donald Trump's campaign of violence in the Caribbean, which Democrats - and at least one Republican - in Congress have said is an indefensible use of deadly force."

"The Trump administration has said it is in "armed conflict" with drug traffickers, whom the president and others have describes as terrorists. International law requires the protection of wounded combatants when military forces are able. Trump has repeatedly said he has authorized the strikes under his authority as commander in chief, but whether the strikes are legal has become a flash point for some members of Congress. This week Trump said he had also authorized the Central Intelligence Agency to conduct missions inside Venezuela."

U.S. forces struck suspected drug traffickers transiting the Caribbean Sea near Venezuela, killing an unspecified number and leaving some survivors who were taken into custody and detained aboard a Navy vessel. The operation followed a recent escalation of counternarcotics activities under the Trump administration and is the sixth known attack on suspected drug boats near Venezuela since September. The administration has previously disclosed 27 deaths it attributes to drug smugglers and has characterized the effort as an armed conflict with traffickers. The campaign has prompted legal and political challenges, including questions about obligations under international law and congressional concern. Defense officials named Adm. Alvin Holsey to oversee the region.

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