US destroys alleged Venezuelan drug boat, killing three

[ad_1] President Donald Trump says the US army has destroyed an alleged Venezuelan drug vessel travelling in worldwide waters on the way in which to the US.

Trump mentioned on Monday that three males had been killed within the assault on "violent drug trafficking cartels". He supplied no proof that the boat was carrying medication.

Shortly earlier than, his Venezuelan counterpart Nicolás Maduro mentioned Caracas would defend itself towards US "aggression", calling America's prime diplomat Marco Rubio the "lord of demise and warfare".

Tensions between the 2 nations escalated after the US deployed warships to the southern Caribbean on what officers mentioned had been counter-narcotics operations, finishing up a strike which killed 11 folks.

"This morning, on my orders, US army forces performed a second kinetic strike towards positively recognized, terribly violent drug trafficking cartels and narcoterrorists," Trump mentioned on Reality Social.

"These extraordinarily violent drug trafficking cartels pose a menace to US nationwide safety."

The submit additionally included an almost 30 second video, which appeared to indicate a vessel in a physique of water exploding after which bursting into flames.

Rubio had earlier on Monday defended the primary assault on a ship mentioned to be carrying medication from Venezuela, which killed all 11 folks on board, saying Washington had "100% constancy and certainty" that the vessel was concerned in trafficking to the US.

"What wants to start out occurring is a few of these boats must get blown up," he mentioned throughout an interview on Fox Information. He added that Maduro represented "a direct menace to the nationwide safety" of the US because of his alleged involvement in drug trafficking.

Afterward Monday, Maduro mentioned that relations with the US had "been destroyed by their bomb threats".

"We have now moved from a interval of battered relations to a totally damaged one".

The Venezuelan president mentioned the federal government would "absolutely" train its "respectable proper to defend itself".

Authorized consultants beforehand advised the BBC that the deadly strike on the primary vessel in worldwide waters could have violated worldwide human rights and maritime legislation.

Requested by a journalist on Sunday whether or not the US would now "begin doing strikes on mainland Venezuela", Trump answered: "We'll see what occurs."

Talking to reporters in New Jersey, the president mentioned Venezuela was "sending us their gang members, their drug sellers and medicines".

He mentioned that maritime site visitors within the Southern Caribbean had diminished considerably "for the reason that first strike".

Specialists raised questions in regards to the legality of the two September assault on the alleged drug boat, saying that it could have violated worldwide legislation.

Venezuela responded by flying two F-16 fighter jets over a US Navy destroyer two days later.

That led Trump to warn that any Venezuelan jets placing "us in a harmful scenario" could be shot down.

After a quick lull, tensions rose once more on Saturday when Venezuelan International Minister Yván Gil accused US forces of boarding a Venezuelan vessel.

Gil mentioned the vessel, which he described as a "small, innocent" fishing boat, was seized "illegally and hostilely" for eight hours.

In an announcement, the Venezuelan international ministry alleged that those that ordered the seizure had been "searching for an incident to justify escalating warfare within the Caribbean, with the goal of regime change" in Caracas.

The US, and lots of different nations together with the UK, haven't recognised the re-election of Maduro in July 2024, pointing to proof gathered by the opposition with the assistance of impartial observers displaying that his rival, Edmundo González, had gained the election by a landslide.

US officers have additionally accused Maduro of main a drug cartel referred to as the Cartel of the Suns and are providing a reward of $50m (£37m) for data resulting in his seize.

Maduro has denied the allegations and has accused the US of an "imperialist transfer" to depose him.

He has referred to as on Venezuelans to enlist within the militia, a drive made up of civilians which up to now has been used primarily to spice up numbers at political rallies and parades.