US Military Strikes on Suspected Drug Vessels Spark Controversy

The Colombian government has accused the US of 'murder' after a US strike on a submarine allegedly carrying drugs. Colombian President Gustavo Petro claimed the submarine was adrift and had a distress signal due to engine failure when it was attacked, resulting in two deaths. US President Donald Trump defended the strike, stating that the submarine was 'loaded up with mostly Fentanyl, and other illegal narcotics.' The incident is the sixth US strike on ships in the Caribbean in recent weeks, with at least 27 people killed in previous attacks. UN-appointed human rights experts have criticized the US strikes as 'extrajudicial executions.'

A Cameroonian-flagged ship, the Falcon, caught fire in the Gulf of Aden off Yemen's coast after possibly being struck by a projectile. The incident has raised concerns due to the vessel being fully loaded with liquefied petroleum gas, risking an explosion. The crew of 26, mostly Indian nationals, abandoned ship with one mariner missing and another likely still on board. The cause of the fire is disputed, with UK officials suggesting a projectile hit the ship, while EU officials indicated it might have been an accident. The incident occurs amidst heightened tensions with Yemen's Houthi rebels attacking ships in the Red Sea corridor, though they have not claimed this attack. The Houthi campaign has disrupted shipping, caused casualties, and led to the sinking of several ships.

The U.S. Embassy in Trinidad and Tobago has issued a warning to Americans in the country to avoid U.S. government facilities due to rising tensions between the U.S. and Venezuela. The alert is linked to threats against American citizens in Trinidad and Tobago, which may be connected to the ongoing tensions in the region. The tensions are a result of recent U.S. military strikes in Caribbean waters targeting suspected drug traffickers, which have resulted in the deaths of at least 19 people. The Trinidad and Tobago authorities have implemented security measures to address the situation, but have not shared specific details about the threats. The U.S. and Venezuela are experiencing heightened tensions, with President Trump stating that the U.S. will not tolerate 'narcoterrorists' trafficking illegal drugs.

A U.S. military drone strike on a drug smuggling vessel in the Caribbean on Thursday left two to three survivors, according to a U.S. official. The partially submerged vessel was operating in international waters when it was hit. The U.S. military launched search and rescue assets, including a rescue helicopter, but it is unclear if any survivors were rescued. The incident marks the first known instance of survivors since the U.S. began its campaign of lethal strikes against suspected drug boats. The operation is part of President Donald Trump's broader push to dismantle transnational cartels by force.

The US military conducted an airstrike on a semi-submersible vessel in the Caribbean, suspected of trafficking illegal narcotics, resulting in two deaths and two survivors who were later repatriated to Colombia and Ecuador. The operation was part of a campaign ordered by the Trump administration to target 'narcoterrorists trafficking illegal drugs'. The US president, Donald Trump, posted footage of the operation on Truth Social, claiming the vessel was loaded with mostly Fentanyl and other illegal narcotics. The strike is part of a larger US military buildup in the Caribbean, amid escalating tensions with Venezuela, whose president, Nicolas Maduro, has denied any connection to drug smuggling and accused the US of violating sovereignty and international law.