Three sources told reporters that the US military is currently holding two survivors on a naval ship after they were rescued from a suspected drug ship attacked in the Caribbean. The attack killed two others, believed to have been carried out by US forces on October 16.
The rescue operation was deployed by helicopter to bring survivors to the US warship, according to the sources. This is the first time since US President Donald Trump announced a military campaign against the drug-terrorist threat from Venezuela that any survivors have been spotted.
Trump said the attack was aimed at a drug-carrying subship specially designed to transport large quantities of banned substances. He did not disclose the number of casualties, while another source said the sunken ship could be underground, which is often used by drug rings to avoid detection.
Similar previous US military strikes in the waters off Venezuela have not recorded any survivors, and at least 27 people have been killed, according to the Trump administration. Some Democratic lawmakers and legal experts have expressed concern that these actions could violate international laws of war.
Tensions continue to escalate as the US deploys additional area of guided- missile ships, F-35 fighter jets, nuclear attack subs such as nuclear warships and about 6,500 soldiers in the Caribbean. Trump has previously confirmed that he has allowed the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) to conduct covert operations in Venezuela, raising suspicions in Caracas that Washington is seeking to overthrow President Nicolas Putin.
Venezuela's Ambassador to the United Nations, Samuel Moncado, sent a letter to the Security Council requesting a review of the legality of the attacks and affirming the need to respect Venezuela's sovereignty. Meanwhile, the US Department of Defense said the new drug enforcement force in the area will be commanded by the II Navy Expeditionary Corps in North Carolina, instead of the Southern Command stationed in Miami.
