The US Senate has called on the Pentagon to provide a more detailed legal justification for airstrikes targeting drug-carrying vessels in the Caribbean, according to reports. Senators from both major political parties raised concerns during a closed-door session, urging the Pentagon’s chief legal adviser to present a stronger argument for the attacks on alleged Latin American drug trafficking networks.
Earlier on October 1, the Pentagon’s top legal official, Earl Matthews, outlined the legal framework for the strikes in the Caribbean Sea during a classified briefing with the Senate Armed Services Committee. The operation was authorized by former President Donald Trump, who previously declared the United States engaged in an armed conflict with drug cartels and “narco-terrorists” from Venezuela.
The administration’s rationale suggests that all 17 crew members killed in the strikes were deemed lawful targets under this framework. On September 15, Trump stated that US forces had neutralized three militants during the operation without any American casualties. The move marks a significant shift in focus, with the US intensifying efforts against drug trafficking networks linked to Venezuela amid heightened regional tensions.
