The U.S. military is detaining two people aboard a Navy ship in the Caribbean after two others aboard their vessel were killed in a targeted U.S. strike, sources told news agencies Friday.
The United States has carried out several strikes against what it calls “narcoterrorist” ships off the coast of Venezuela since September, with U.S. President Donald Trump accusing Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro of running a global drug cartel.
The two individuals arrested Friday are the first to have survived such American attacks.
Sitting alongside Secretary of State Marco Rubio for talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Washington on Friday, Trump said the strike targeted “a drug-carrying submarine built specifically to transport massive quantities of drugs.”
Reuters cited sources familiar with the matter on Friday as saying that the Navy had deployed helicopters to rescue the two survivors.
What are the attacks by American “narco-boats” about?
Thursday’s attack would be the sixth US attack on “narco” boats off the coast of Venezuela – with the Trump administration claiming to have liquidated 28 people as part of its efforts and leading experts to question the legality of these extrajudicial killings, even if the individuals targeted are those the administration claims.
Neither the White House, State Department nor Pentagon have provided evidence to support the US accusations.
The United States has undertaken a significant redeployment of military equipment to the Caribbean – including stealth bombers and fighter jets – as Trump continues to escalate tensions with Venezuela.
The president also admitted this week that he had authorized covert CIA operations in Venezuela – with Caracas accusing the US of seeking “regime change”.
Asked Friday by a White House reporter whether it was true that Maduro had made overtures intended to ease tensions, Trump responded: “He offered everything, you’re right.”
When asked why on live television, Trump replied: “You know why? Because he doesn’t want to mess with the United States.”
Venezuela this week urged the UN Security Council to rule on the legality of recent US actions and to reaffirm its support for Venezuelan sovereignty.
Edited by: Rana Taha
