U.S. Attacked Boat Near Venezuela Multiple Times to Kill Survivors
American officials said the repeat drone strikes were carried out by Special Operations Command, and more attacks could come soon.
License to Kill
Since September 2025, the Trump administration has conducted an undeclared war in the Caribbean Sea and Pacific Ocean, killing scores of civilians by deploying drone strikes on boats they allege are carrying drugs.
Experts in the laws of war and members of Congress say the strikes are illegal extrajudicial killings because the military is not permitted to deliberately target civilians — even suspected criminals — who do not pose an imminent threat of violence.
The Intercept is covering how the war on terror and the war on drugs are becoming one and the same.
Rand Paul Reveals Venezuela Boat Attack Was a Drone Strike
The senator told The Intercept the attack defied rules of engagement and came from a drone. A legal expert calls it murder.
Voices
The Rift in Trump World Over Venezuela
The Trump administration wants to exert more control over Latin America. Will it come by deal-making or by force?
Pentagon Official: Trump Boat Strike Was a Criminal Attack on Civilians
A current DoD official and many military legal experts say the U.S. attack on a boat in the Caribbean near Venezuela broke international law.
Trump Boasts of Strike on “Drug-Carrying Boat” From Venezuela
The U.S. military carried out an attack on a “drug vessel” in the Caribbean. It could mark the first shots of a new war.
Can Congress Stop Trump From Starting a War in Mexico?
More than 30 human rights groups urge congressional leaders to block Trump’s attempt to target Mexican cartels.