• Trump confirms repatriation of two survivors from a drug vessel strike to Ecuador and Colombia.
• The U.S. military had launched the strike on a suspected drug-carrying submarine.
• Trump claims the operation is part of a broader campaign against narcotrafficking.
• At least 29 people have reportedly died in similar operations since September.
• The legality of these strikes has drawn concern from legal experts and lawmakers.

President Donald Trump announced that two survivors of a U.S. military strike on a suspected drug-carrying submarine will be repatriated to Ecuador and Colombia for "detention and prosecution." He stated that two others aboard the vessel were killed during the operation, which was characterized as necessary to combat narcotrafficking aimed at the U.S. According to NPR, the military action is part of a series of attacks since early September against vessels reportedly linked to drug trafficking.

In a post on his social media platform, Trump described the submarine as "very large" and stated it was "navigating towards the United States on a well-known narcotrafficking transit route," adding that it was primarily transporting fentanyl and other illegal drugs. This operation marks the sixth strike against suspected drug vessels, which has led to a death toll exceeding 29 according to the administration, as reported by The Hill and South China Morning Post.

Following the strike, the survivors were initially held aboard a U.S. Navy ship after being rescued by military forces. The repatriation to their home countries is seen as a strategy to circumvent potential legal challenges the Trump administration could face under U.S. laws regarding detention rights of combatants, which might arise if they were held in U.S. jurisdiction. This concern is shared by legal experts who question the legality of such military interventions against alleged narcotraffickers, as stated by BBC and ABC News.

Trump's military ventures in the Caribbean have intensified tensions with the Venezuelan government, accused of facilitating drug trafficking operations. Reports suggest the U.S. has assembled a military presence in the region to bolster these efforts, involving both naval and air resources. The strikes have sparked criticism from numerous Democratic lawmakers and humanitarian groups, arguing they breach international laws, as highlighted by India Times and Al Jazeera.