At least 27 killed since September in U.S. operations targeting alleged “narcoterrorists”

WASHINGTON - The U.S. military has conducted another strike on a vessel in the Caribbean, according to a report by Reuters, citing an anonymous U.S. official. For the first time since the start of the operations, survivors have been reported among the crew.

It remains unclear whether the U.S. provided assistance to the survivors or if they have been taken into custody. No official statement has yet been issued by U.S. Southern Command or the Department of Defense regarding the incident.

According to the Trump administration, the ongoing attacks are aimed at suspected drug-smuggling vessels and “narcoterrorist” networks allegedly operating through Venezuelan waters. Since September, at least 27 people have been killed in similar military operations across the region.

Former President Donald Trump has claimed that large quantities of narcotics are being trafficked into the United States via Venezuela, and has accused the Venezuelan government of releasing prisoners who then attempt to migrate north toward U.S. territory. However, no evidence has been presented to support these claims.

Trump reportedly authorized the CIA to conduct covert operations targeting drug cartels and trafficking networks in Venezuela, as part of what Washington describes as a broader counter-narcotics effort in the Caribbean.

The recent strike has reignited debate over the legality and transparency of U.S. military actions in regional waters, as well as concerns about the impact on maritime safety and international law in the Caribbean.