US Kills 11 on Venezuelan Boat After Course Change

In early September 2025, President Donald Trump authorized a U.S. military missile strike on a Venezuelan vessel in the southern Caribbean, claiming it was transporting drugs to the United States and linked to the Tren de Aragua gang. Despite the boat appearing to alter its course and turn back toward shore after spotting U.S. military aircraft, it was subjected to multiple strikes, resulting in the deaths of 11 individuals. The Trump administration justified the strike under the laws of armed conflict, arguing drug trafficking constitutes an imminent national security threat due to overdose deaths in the U.S. Critics and legal experts condemned the action as extrajudicial killing without due process, especially since the retreating vessel no longer posed an immediate threat. The administration released only limited evidence, including a brief video of the attack, and the operation's details, including involvement of Special Operations Command, remain classified. Vice President JD Vance supported the strike but acknowledged concerns over due process, while Pentagon officials warned that future military actions against narcotics traffickers in the region could follow.