Trump orders another strike off Venezuela, raising alarms over legality, power

President Donald Trump has confirmed that the United States carried out another airstrike on a vessel off the Venezuelan coast, killing six people — the fifth such attack in six weeks. Once again, the White House claimed the target was involved in drug trafficking, though no evidence was provided.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump said the strike was conducted under his “Standing Authorities as Commander-in-Chief,” and that the small boat was linked to a “Designated Terrorist Organization.” He shared a short video of the explosion, showing what appeared to be a stationary vessel before it was hit by a missile.

“No U.S. forces were harmed,” Trump wrote.

The Pentagon later said the strike took place in international waters. Rights groups and international law experts, however, say the campaign of bombings violates international law, as suspected traffickers are not combatants and should be subject to arrest — not targeted killings.

Since early September, at least 27 people have been killed in similar attacks. The administration has repeatedly justified the bombings as part of a self-declared “war” against Latin American drug cartels.

Critics say these actions reflect Trump’s effort to expand presidential war powers with minimal oversight. Earlier this month, the White House informed Congress that the US was engaged in a “non-international armed conflict” with cartels — language that would allow continued military operations without congressional approval.

The Senate recently rejected a bill that would have required lawmakers’ consent for any future strikes against drug-trafficking vessels.

The strikes come amid a broader US military build-up in the Caribbean. Fighter jets and surveillance aircraft have been redeployed to bases in Puerto Rico and nearby islands. Venezuelan officials have condemned the attacks as provocations, while Trump has continued to accuse Caracas of “sending criminals” to the United States.

“We get drugs and all of that, but we get something worse,” Trump said Tuesday. “They send their criminals into the United States.”

A declassified US intelligence report in May found no evidence linking Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro to the Tren de Aragua gang, which Trump cited.