Washington– The US Army said on Monday that it had conducted the operation Another hit against the boat Accused of drug trafficking in the eastern Pacific, resulting in the deaths of two people.
The strike, which was announced by US Southern Command on social media, brought… Total number of known boat strikes To 30, and the death toll is at least 107 since the beginning of September, according to figures announced by the Trump administration.
The army said the ship “was involved in drug smuggling operations,” although it did not provide evidence to support this claim.
In a video of the strike posted on social media, a boat was seen moving in the water before being hit by two explosions.
President Donald Trump did it Justify the attacks As a necessary escalation to stop the flow of drugs into the United States, he stressed that the United States is involved in this “Armed conflict” with drug gangs.
Along with the strikes, the Trump administration has built up military forces in the region as part of an escalating pressure campaign on the Venezuelan president. Nicolas Madurowho was charged with drug-related terrorism in the United States.
When asked by reporters on Monday about an “explosion in Venezuela,” Trump said the United States “hit” a dock facility along the coast where boats accused of carrying drugs are “loaded.”
Trump said during his meeting: “There was a big explosion in the dock area where they are loading boats with drugs.” With Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Florida. Trump, the White House and the Pentagon did not provide any further details.
In December, the Trump administration also launched a new tactic Seizing two sanctioned oil tankers Off the coast of Venezuela and Follow the third. As a result, some were punished Tankers began shifting Far from South American country.
Maduro insists that the real goal of US operations is to force him from power. Trump It has been suggested for several months He may carry out ground strikes in Venezuela or perhaps another country.
It faced the Trump administration Scrutiny by legislators During the boat strike campaign. It grew amid revelations of the first attack in early September A follow-up raid killed two survivors Clinging to the wreckage of the boat after the first hit.