The US has struck another vessel off the coast of Venezuela on Tuesday, killing six people, President Donald Trump has said.


In a post on Truth Social, Trump stated the vessel belonged to narcoterrorists and was involved in trafficking narcotics. This is the fifth strike of its kind under the Trump administration targeting boats accused of drug trafficking on international waters since September, reporting a total of 27 fatalities; however, the US has not released specific information regarding the identities of those aboard.


Legal experts have raised concerns about potential breaches of international law, and neighboring countries such as Colombia and Venezuela have condemned these military actions.


Trump claimed that intelligence indicated the vessel was engaging in drug trafficking operations, associating it with known narcoterrorist networks along a recognized smuggling route. He further shared aerial footage displaying a missile strike on a small boat, which exploded upon impact.


Although Trump did not clarify the nationality of the individuals aboard or the drug trafficking organization implicating them, he assured that no US military personnel were harmed during the strike.


This latest attack continues a series of aggressive military maneuvers by the US, which has been positioned as acts of self-defense against drug trafficking. Legal scholars challenge the actions’ legitimacy, framing them as part of an escalatory narrative that categorizes the US as being in a non-international armed conflict with criminal cartels.


While acknowledging some level of drug trafficking in Venezuela, critics argue such actions are politically motivated to intensify military pressure on President Nicolás Maduro. The US has previously offered a $50 million reward for information leading to Maduro’s arrest on drug trafficking charges, amidst widespread international disdain for his leadership.


The Venezuelan government has vehemently rejected the US accusations of drug trafficking and has contested the authenticity of the video footage released by Trump.