Survivors reported after latest US attack on alleged drug boat in Caribbean

[struggle4progress]

The US military carried out a new strike on Thursday against a suspected drug vessel in the Caribbean, and in what is believed to be the first such case, there were survivors among the crew, a US official told Reuters.

The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, did not offer additional details about the incident, which has not been previously reported. But it raises new questions, including whether the US military rendered aid to the survivors and whether they are now in US military custody ...

Prior to Thursday’s operation, US military strikes against suspected drug boats off Venezuela killed at least 27 people, raising alarms among some legal experts and Democratic lawmakers, who question whether they adhere to the laws of war ...

In a letter to the United Nations’ 15-member security council, seen by Reuters, Venezuela’s UN ambassador, Samuel Moncada, asked for a UN determination that the US strikes off its coast are illegal and issue a statement backing Venezuela’s sovereignty ...

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/oct/16/survivors-attack-drug-boat-caribbean

[Qutzupalotl]

1. I hope we hear their story.

I bet it has nothing to do with drugs, but we'll see.

[taxi]

2. This does create a problem, doesn't it?

The whole purpose of blowing up the boats is to kill the occupants otherwise they would stop the boat by other means. Exactly what the other means of stopping the boat are isn't the point though. We have the resources of the best equipped military in the world and any argument that it is ineffective to stop the boat at sea is an excuse. The drugs are not smuggled until the boat stops and the drugs are taken off. Authorities say the know there are drugs on the boat, that the drugs are destined for the US, and the occupants are narco-terrorists, yet they can't figure out that the boat will eventually stop. It has to. At that point arrests can be made, drugs can be confiscated and destroyed, and the boat can be sold.
So, yes. The point is to kill, and not to stop the boats.

[AZJonnie]

3. Trump has found targets he can get away with murdering, which I'm certain has been his biggest dream in life

To have the power of life and death, without consequences. I'm sure he flogs the mushroom after every time someone is murdered at his direction. It's so, ya know ... PUTIN-ESQUE? I'm quite sure he also takes great pleasure when anyone dies because he used his power to deny them aid previously promised by decent human beings that came before him.

You know, the sorts of people who might actually get into Heaven.

Which he CLEARLY will not be doing