U.S. Military Strike Kills 11 on Venezuelan Boat Amid Legal Controversy

The U.S. military's recent strike on a Venezuelan boat in international waters, ordered by President Donald Trump, has sparked widespread controversy and legal debate. The operation, which killed 11 people, diverged from traditional drug interdiction practices by using lethal force without attempting to seize the vessel or arrest suspects. Reports reveal that the boat had altered its course, appearing to retreat before being struck, raising questions about the justification of the strike as an act of self-defense. Officials have provided inconsistent accounts regarding the boat's destination and have yet to release evidence supporting claims that the vessel was tied to terrorists or drug traffickers heading to the U.S. Furthermore, the White House has withheld detailed information from Congress, violating norms of transparency and oversight and fueling concerns over the expansion of presidential war powers. Legal experts warn that treating drug smugglers as combatants under the laws of war is a novel and potentially unlawful interpretation, intensifying scrutiny amid rising tensions between the U.S. and Venezuela.