US Military Strikes Drug Boats, Killing 10 Amid Tensions with Venezuela

US Military Strikes on Suspected Drug Boats

• 🎯 The US Southern Command conducted strikes on five alleged drug-smuggling boats over two days, resulting in the deaths of at least ten people.
• 🚢 On New Year's Eve, US forces struck two boats in international waters, killing three and two individuals respectively.
• 🌊 The day before, on December 30th, three vessels were attacked; three people died on one boat, while occupants of the other two abandoned ship and swam into open waters.
• 🔍 Search and rescue efforts were launched by the US Coast Guard for potential survivors, but their recovery remains unclear.
• 💥 An alleged drug boat was sunk in the Eastern Pacific on Monday, killing two on board.

Operation Southern Spear and Escalating Tensions

• ⚡ The strikes are part of an ongoing campaign by the US Southern Command aimed at stopping drug trafficking, dubbed Operation Southern Spear.
• 🚢 The US military also reportedly carried out a drone attack on a dock inside Venezuela, with sources citing the CIA.
• 🚫 Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro is pushing back against US actions, including a blockade of sanctioned oil tankers, viewing it as a smokescreen for regime change.
• 💰 Treasury Secretary Scott Essence stated that the US will not allow the Maduro regime to profit from oil exports while it exports deadly drugs to the US.
• ⚠️ The Maduro regime has also detained more Americans, including a 28-year-old man who has been missing since crossing into southern Venezuela.