US Military Kills 11 in Caribbean Strike on Venezuelan Drug Boat

The Trump administration authorized a U.S. military strike on a Venezuelan boat in international waters, killing 11 individuals alleged to be members of the Tren de Aragua drug gang. President Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio justified the operation as a necessary action to combat drug trafficking that threatens U.S. security, with Vice President JD Vance supporting the use of lethal force against cartel members. However, reports from The New York Times and other sources reveal that the vessel had turned around before the attack after spotting a U.S. military aircraft, raising significant legal and ethical concerns. Many legal experts, including retired military lawyers, criticized the strike as lacking a valid self-defense justification, especially given the boat's apparent retreat, and questioned the administration’s novel claim that lethal force against drug traffickers is permissible under the laws of armed conflict. Congressional Democrats and some Republicans have called for briefings and scrutiny over whether the president exceeded his authority, while some Republicans defend the strike as within the commander-in-chief powers. The incident has sparked a broader debate on the legality and morality of using military force against suspected drug traffickers without warnings or non-lethal measures.