President Donald Trump has confirmed that the US will return two survivors from a strike on what he described as a drug-carrying submarine to their home countries, Ecuador and Colombia.
In a post on social media, Trump indicated that two others were killed during the US military action against the vessel, which he claimed was loaded up with mostly Fentanyl and other illegal narcotics. This recent operation marks at least the sixth US strike on ships in the Caribbean in recent weeks, with the report of survivors being a notable first.
The two survivors were reportedly rescued by a US military helicopter and transferred to a US warship in Caribbean waters, according to unnamed officials. The prior strikes have resulted in at least 27 fatalities, as reported by the administration.
In light of this event, tensions with Venezuela have escalated, as Trump has intensified threats against the nation's leadership, claiming they facilitate the flow of drugs into the US. Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro accused the Trump administration of seeking to dominate Venezuela.
The US president defended the attacks, asserting they target drug trafficking from Latin America but provided no specific evidence regarding the ships involved or the individuals on board.
In a recent statement, Trump referred to the targeted submarine as a vessel built specifically for transporting drugs, emphasizing the criminal intent behind its construction. He declared on Saturday, It was my great honor to destroy a very large DRUG-CARRYING SUBMARINE... The two surviving terrorists are being returned to their countries of origin for detention and prosecution. He assured that no American military personnel were harmed during the strike.
On Friday, Trump described the submarine as designed for massive drug transportation, suggesting that the individuals aboard were not innocent, given the circumstances.
International responses to the American operations have been critical, with UN-appointed human rights experts labeling the strikes as extrajudicial executions. Trump has further indicated that he has authorized the CIA to engage in covert operations within Venezuela and is contemplating potential attacks on Venezuelan territory.
As an increasing number of narco-submarines are being utilized to transport drugs covertly, the US and other coastal nations have successfully intercepted several of these vessels in the past, highlighting ongoing challenges in combating drug trafficking.
