Four Killed in Latest US Strike at Sea
The United States military has confirmed that four people were killed during a recent attack on a vessel in the eastern Pacific Ocean, marking the latest escalation in Washington’s growing confrontation with Venezuela.
According to US Southern Command (SOUTHCOM), the strike targeted what it described as “four male narco-terrorists.” However, the military did not release independent evidence proving that the vessel was actively involved in drug trafficking.
Operation ‘Southern Spear’ Expands
SOUTHCOM said the vessel was travelling along a route commonly associated with drug smuggling in the eastern Pacific. A video shared online showed a speedboat being destroyed in what officials labelled a “lethal” operation.
The strike, reportedly authorised by US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, brings the total number of people killed in US maritime attacks to nearly 100. These deaths stem from acknowledged strikes on at least 26 vessels across the Pacific Ocean and Caribbean since September.
Legal and Human Rights Concerns Grow
International law experts and human rights advocates have accused the United States of conducting extrajudicial killings in international waters. Critics argue that such actions bypass judicial oversight and violate international legal standards.
President Donald Trump has defended the operations, insisting they are necessary to disrupt drug trafficking networks allegedly operating from Venezuela and to protect US borders from narcotics inflows.
US Congress Rejects Limits on Military Action
Political tensions intensified after the US House of Representatives narrowly voted down two resolutions aimed at restricting presidential military authority.
One resolution sought to force the withdrawal of US forces from hostilities involving Venezuela without congressional approval. Another aimed to block military action against any US-designated terrorist organisation in the Western Hemisphere unless authorised by Congress. Both measures failed by slim margins.
Major US Military Build-Up in Latin America
The rejected resolutions come amid a significant US military deployment in Latin America. The operation reportedly involves thousands of troops, the country’s largest aircraft carrier, and a nuclear-powered submarine.
President Trump has openly threatened military action to remove Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro’s government, raising fears of a broader regional conflict.
Naval Blockade and Rising Regional Alarm
Recent reports indicate that US forces seized an oil tanker off Venezuela’s coast and transported it to the United States. In response, Venezuela’s navy has begun escorting oil shipments, according to sources cited by international media.
Latin American leaders and UN Secretary-General António Guterres have voiced serious concerns, warning that the risk of war is increasing as tensions between Washington and Caracas intensify.
Calls for Diplomacy Over Force
Mexico has reiterated its opposition to foreign military intervention in Venezuela, urging dialogue instead of armed confrontation. Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva also emphasised diplomacy, saying peaceful dialogue can be more powerful than military force.
Meanwhile, President Maduro reportedly spoke with the UN chief, condemning what he described as a US naval blockade and denouncing escalating threats against Venezuela’s sovereignty.
Conclusion
As US military operations expand and diplomatic efforts struggle to gain ground, fears are growing that the standoff between Washington and Caracas could spiral into a wider conflict with serious regional consequences.