Washington, 17 October (H.S.): The U.S. military conducted a new strike against a suspected drug vessel in the Caribbean on Thursday, and for the first time, there were survivors among the crew, a U.S. official has confirmed. This development raises immediate questions regarding the legal status, custody, and medical treatment of the survivors.
The operation is the latest in a series of attacks that have killed at least 27 people, prompting alarm among legal experts and Democratic lawmakers who question the legality of the strikes under the laws of war. The Trump administration maintains that the actions are legitimate, arguing the U.S. is engaged in a war with narcoterrorist groups from Venezuela.
This incident occurs against a backdrop of escalating tensions and a significant U.S. military buildup in the region.
Key related events include:
-President Donald Trump’s recent authorization of covert CIA operations inside Venezuela.
-A formal request by Venezuela’s UN Ambassador, Samuel Moncada, for the UN Security Council to declare the U.S. strikes illegal.
-The surprise announcement that Admiral Alvin Holsey, the head of the U.S. Southern Command, will step down two years ahead of schedule.
Senator Jack Reed, the top Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, called Admiral Holsey’s unexpected resignation troubling, expressing concern that the administration might be ignoring the hard-earned lessons of previous U.S. military campaigns as fears of a confrontation with Venezuela mount.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar
