- President Donald Trump announced that American forces attacked and destroyed a second small boat purportedly carrying narcotics from Venezuela, killing three individuals he referred to as 'narcoterrorists'.
- Writing on Truth Social, Trump stated the 'second kinetic strike' was ordered against 'extraordinarily violent drug trafficking cartels' operating in international waters, transporting illegal narcotics to the US.
- This incident follows a similar strike earlier this month against a vessel claimed to be carrying members of Tren de Aragua, a Venezuelan gang designated as a foreign terrorist organization by the Trump administration.
- The military actions have drawn condemnation from members of Congress, including Senator Tim Kaine and 24 other Democrats, who question the legal justification and authority for such strikes against Venezuela.
- The Trump administration defends the strikes as self-defense, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio arguing the drug cartels pose an immediate threat to the nation, indicating more military action against drug targets could follow.
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