Washington, Nov 7 (AP) – On Thursday, Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth announced a recent US attack on a boat allegedly involved in narcotics trafficking in the Caribbean Sea. The strike resulted in the death of three individuals aboard the vessel, raising the death toll to at least 69 people from 17 strikes under the Trump administration’s operations in South American waters.
Hegseth shared a brief 20-second video of the attack on social media, stating, "As we've said before, vessel strikes on narco-terrorists will continue until their poisoning of the American people stops." He alleged the vessel was managed by a "Designated Terrorist Organisation." President Donald Trump has defended the operations, citing a state of "armed conflict" with drug cartels and asserting that these vessels are run by foreign terror groups, though the administration has not provided further evidence or details.
On Wednesday, Hegseth, along with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, briefed a select group of congressional leaders on this escalating military campaign, offering a rare insight into the legal foundations and tactics of these strikes. Republicans responded with silence or support, while Democrats voiced the need for clarity regarding the operation's legal basis. They argue that such actions might breach international and US laws by targeting suspected drug traffickers on international waters.
On Thursday, Senate Republicans blocked legislation intended to restrict President Trump's power to order military action against Venezuela. As a result, Democrats continue to urge Congress to assert a greater influence over Trump's high-risk strategy against President Nicolas Maduro.
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