US Military Strikes Again: Six Killed in Recent Attack Near Venezuela

Fri Dec 05 2025 16:49:27 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

In a bold military action off the Venezuelan coast, the US has killed six individuals in a vessel strike, accused of drug trafficking. This attack marks the fifth such operation in recent weeks and raises questions surrounding the legality and motives behind the actions of the Trump administration.

The US has launched another strike on a vessel off the coast of Venezuela, killing six people. President Trump labeled those on board as 'narcoterrorists' involved in drug trafficking. This marks the fifth strike in a series of military actions targeting drug trafficking in international waters. Critics raise concerns over the legality of these actions, while the Venezuelan government vehemently denies allegations of drug trade involvement by President Maduro.

The US has struck another vessel off the coast of Venezuela on Tuesday, killing six people, President Donald Trump has said.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump said the vessel belonged to narcoterrorists and that it was trafficking narcotics. This is the fifth strike of its kind by the Trump administration on a boat accused of trafficking drugs on international waters since September. In total, 27 people have been reported killed, but the US has not provided evidence or details about identities of the vessels or those on board them.

Some lawyers have accused the US of breaching international law, and neighbouring nations like Colombia and Venezuela have condemned the strikes.

In his Truth Social post, Trump said intelligence confirmed the vessel was trafficking narcotics, was associated with illicit narcoterrorist networks, and was transiting along a known route for smuggling.

Trump also posted an aerial surveillance video showing a small boat on water that is struck by a missile and explodes.

He did not specify the nationality of those on board or what drug smuggling organisation they are suspected of belonging to, adding that no US military personnel were injured.

The strike comes after a recent leaked memo sent to Congress, and reported on by US media, that said the administration determined the US was in a non-international armed conflict with drug cartels.

It has also deployed multiple warships to the Caribbean. The US has positioned its strikes on alleged drug-trafficking vessels as self-defence, despite many lawyers questioning their legality.

Framing this as an active armed conflict may allow Trump to justify using extreme wartime powers – potentially targeting enemy fighters without a direct threat present, or detaining individuals indefinitely.

While some drug trafficking occurs in Venezuela, it is not viewed as a major hotspot compared to other regions, leading many to believe these strikes are part of a larger political strategy to pressure President Nicolás Maduro.

These military actions follow the US offering a $50m reward for information leading to Maduro's arrest on drug-trafficking charges, as his election has been rejected internationally.

Venezuelan officials have responded angrily to the strikes, with Maduro denying drug involvement and questioning the footage shared by Trump.