• The US has increased military strikes against alleged drug boats linked to Venezuela, claiming a total of 17 casualties.
• Venezuelan officials accuse the US of waging an "undeclared war" in the Caribbean and demand a UN investigation.
• President Trump ordered lethal strikes, stating they target "narcoterrorists" engaging in drug trafficking.
• Critics question the legality of the strikes, citing potential human rights violations.
• Tensions have heightened with Venezuela conducting military exercises in response to US naval activities.

President Donald Trump announced that US military forces have conducted a third strike against an alleged drug smuggling vessel in international waters, resulting in the deaths of three people. The President described those targeted as "narcoterrorists" and stated that the vessel was trafficking illicit narcotics along a known smuggling route. He shared a video of the strike on his Truth Social platform, emphasizing the operation's aim to combat drug trafficking threatening the United States, according to NPR.

These military actions have drawn strong condemnation from Venezuela, with officials claiming that the US is conducting an "undeclared war" in the Caribbean. Venezuelan Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino Lopez stated, "executed without the right to a defense," alluding to the 17 people reportedly killed in recent US strikes. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro further accused the US of seeking regime change under the pretense of anti-drug operations and has called for a United Nations investigation into these actions, according to TRT and South China Morning Post.

The US military's recent strikes, reportedly carried out under Trump's orders, have raised concerns about their legality, particularly human rights and sovereignty issues, as drug trafficking is not classified as a capital offense under US law. Critics from human rights organizations expressed that the attacks may amount to extrajudicial killings, challenging the justification used by the Trump administration to escalate military force in the region, according to Newsweek and Los Angeles Times.

In response to the growing military presence, which includes warships and F-35 aircraft, Venezuela has undertaken military exercises on its Caribbean island of La Orchila. Maduro has mobilized troops to defend against what he views as US aggression while increasing calls for armed training among residents to bolster defense capabilities, reports CBS News and India Times.