WASHINGTON, Nov 10 (Reuters) – America struck two alleged drug-carrying vessels within the jap Pacific Ocean on Sunday, killing six folks on board, U.S. Protection Secretary Pete Hegseth mentioned on Monday, as calls mounted for investigations into the strikes.
“These vessels have been recognized by our intelligence to be related to illicit narcotics smuggling, have been carrying narcotics, and have been transiting alongside a recognized narco-trafficking transit route,” Hegseth mentioned in a submit on X, which included a video of the boats being struck.
The U.S. has carried out greater than a dozen strikes since September on vessels close to the Venezuelan coast and, extra lately, within the jap Pacific Ocean, killing greater than 70 folks, in line with the U.S. protection secretary, because it escalates a army buildup within the Caribbean Sea.
The U.S. has alleged, with out presenting proof, that the boats it bombed have been transporting medication, however international leaders, some members of Congress, authorized consultants and relations of these killed have referred to as for proof.
The United Nations human rights chief has referred to as the U.S. strikes on alleged drug sellers unacceptable and a violation of worldwide human rights regulation. Venezuela says they’re unlawful, quantity to homicide and are aggression in opposition to the sovereign South American nation.
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has accused Donald Trump of in search of to topple his authorities, an allegation the U.S. president has downplayed regardless of studies of the administration’s shut contact with Venezuela’s opposition.
In September, the U.S. constructed up its army presence within the Caribbean – together with a nuclear submarine and a gaggle of warships accompanying the world’s largest plane provider – prompting Maduro to shore up safety powers and deploy tens of 1000’s of troops across the nation.
(Reporting by Katharine Jackson; Modifying by Doina Chiacu)
