Trump: New US strike on drug ship off Venezuela coast killed six people

(Patria) - A US strike on a ship off the coast of Venezuela on Tuesday killed six suspected drug traffickers, President Donald Trump said, another such operation in recent weeks as the United States strengthens its military presence in the region, Reuters reported.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump said the strike was carried out against a specific terrorist organization, but did not provide details about the group.

"Intelligence confirmed that the vessel was trafficking narcotics and was linked to illegal narco-terrorist networks," Trump said, without providing evidence.

A video of about thirty seconds, which Trump published, appears to show a stationary vessel on the water being hit by a missile before exploding.

The Pentagon recently revealed to Congress that Trump had determined that the United States was involved in an "international armed conflict" with drug cartels.

Some former military lawyers say that the legal explanations provided by the Trump administration for killing suspected drug traffickers at sea instead of arresting them do not meet the conditions of the laws of war.

The buildup of the US military is taking place in the southern Caribbean. In addition to F-35 aircraft in Puerto Rico, there are eight US warships with thousands of sailors and marines, as well as a nuclear-powered submarine in the region.

The Trump administration has provided scarce information about previous strikes, including the identities of those killed or details about the cargo.

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has repeatedly claimed that the United States hopes to overthrow him from power.

Washington doubled the reward in August for information leading to Maduro's arrest to fifty million dollars, accusing him of links to drug trafficking and criminal groups, which Maduro denies.