National Assembly of Venezuela to Investigate Attacks by US Ships

(Patria) - The National Assembly of Venezuela will form a special commission to investigate the deadly attacks ordered by US President Donald Trump on suspected drug trafficking vessels off the Venezuelan coast and in the eastern Pacific Ocean, the president of the congressional body said on Sunday, Reuters reported.

Speaking on state television, Jorge Rodriguez said the investigation would cover a Friday report by the Washington Post alleging that US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered that all individuals on one of the vessels killed during an attack in September be killed. A second attack then killed two survivors, the report said.

"We will conduct a rigorous and in-depth investigation," Rodriguez said at a press conference, adding that the country's prosecutor's office would also be involved.

The United States has been waging a campaign of deadly attacks on suspected drug trafficking vessels in the region for months.

Maduro and his government deny any involvement in crime and accuse the United States of seeking regime change out of a desire to control Venezuela's vast oil reserves.

On Saturday, Trump said the airspace over and around Venezuela should be considered "fully closed," but provided no further details.

The Venezuelan government called these comments a "colonialist threat" against its sovereignty.