The US military has captured survivors of the deadly precision strike, sources told Reuters
The US military is carrying two survivors aboard a warship after they seized a suspected drug vessel in the Caribbean Hit by a US strike that killed some, three sources familiar with the matter told Reuters on Friday.
The disclosure, which has not been reported before, suggests that the survivors are from Thursday’s military strike launched by President Donald Trump against Venezuela.
The Pentagon did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
What is President Donald Trump repeatedly attacking boats near Venezuela? Andrew Chang breaks threats The Trump Administration says it is responding to why Venezuela’s relationship with China could be one. Images provided by Getty Images, The Canadian Press and Reuters.
Before Thursday’s operation, the US military strike against suspected drug boats from Venezuela did not spare any celebrities.
The strikes began in early September. Videos released by the Trump administration showed the ships being destroyed, but details about the identities of the people or the cargo of the boats have not been released publicly by the administration.
American lawyers are asking questions
The Trump administration has said that previous strikes killed 27 people, raising alarms among some law enforcement experts, at least some Democratic Republicans and at least some Republicans, Sen. Lisa Murkowski, from Alaska. Critics have questioned whether the strikes adhere to the laws of war.
On Wednesday, Trump revealed that he had authorized the Central Intelligence Agency to conduct covert operations inside Venezuela, adding speculation that the United States in Caracas was trying to impersonate Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.
The Trump administration in August increased its reward for information leading to Maduro’s arrest to $50 Million US, accusing him of links to drug trafficking and criminal groups, which he denied.
Trump has repeatedly accused Venezuela of being a hub for the trafficking of deadly drugs, but US records have shown that Mexico is the main source of Fentanyl. Historically, Venezuela’s most illegal export has been cocaine.
US President Donald Trump has confirmed that he has authorized the CIA to carry out covert operations in Venezuela, increasing efforts to suppress the government of President Nicolas Maduro. Trump said he authorized the action because large amounts of drugs were entering the United States from Venezuela, mostly by sea. Venezuela’s foreign ministry condemned the move in a statement, saying the action ‘constitutes a further violation of international law and the United Nations’ Charter. ‘
Colombian President Gustavo Petro, who clashed with the Trump administration over the deportation of migrants, said last week that there were indications that Colombian citizens were among the previous vessels that exploded the bombs. Petro did not specify how many people, and the White House called his comments “baseless.”
Meanwhile, relatives of a Trinidadian man, Chad Joseph, said they believe he was killed in the US strike announced on Tuesday, along with another Trinidadian.
Fishermen in Trinidad and Tobago have expressed concern over the strikes as they depend on the water for their livelihood.
A high-ranking official in the resignation district
The strikes come against the backdrop of a US military build-up in the Caribbean that includes guided missiles, F-35 fighter jets, and a nuclear-powered fleet of about 6,500.
In a surprise move to escalate tensions with Venezuela, the Pentagon announced Thursday that the top military official in Latin America will step down at the end of this year, two years ahead of schedule.
The top Democrat on the Senate Armed Services committee, Jack Reed, of Rhode Island, called ADM. Alvin Holsey of ALL.
“Admiral Helsey’s resignation only deepens my concern that this administration is ignoring the hard-earned lessons of past military campaigns and the advice of our experienced warfighters,” the statement said.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, in a social media post, did not disclose the reason for Holsey’s departure, although he praised the four-agency chief.
Front burner26:47Donald Trump’s War on Drug Cartels
Less than a week ago, the Pentagon announced its counter-narcotic operations in the Niami region, but it is the II Marine Expedingerary Force based in Lejeas camp in North Carolina.
That decision came as a surprise to US military watchers, because the Southern Command usually led any higher operations.
