Exclusive: In a first, US strike in Caribbean leaves survivors, US official says

[Yonnie3]

Source: Reuters

WASHINGTON, Oct 16 (Reuters) - The U.S. 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 U.S. 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 U.S. military rendered aid to the survivors and whether they are now in U.S. military custody.

The Pentagon, which has labeled those it has targeted in the strikes as narcoterrorists, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Prior to Thursday's operation, U.S. 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.

...

Read more: https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-carries-out-new-strike-caribbean-there-are-survivors-us-official-says-2025-10-16/

[Yonnie3]

1. Related? Head of US military for Latin America to step down

WASHINGTON, Oct 16 (Reuters) - The admiral who leads U.S. military forces in Latin America will step down at the end of this year, two years ahead of schedule, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced on Thursday, in a surprise move amid escalating tensions with Venezuela.

A source familiar with the matter told Reuters that there had been tension between Admiral Alvin Holsey and Hegseth over operations in the Caribbean and questions about whether he would be fired in the days leading up to the announcement.

The top Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, Senator Jack Reed, called Holsey's unexpected resignation troubling given mounting fears of a potential U.S. confrontation with Venezuela.

"Admiral Holsey's resignation only deepens my concern that this administration is ignoring the hard-earned lessons of previous U.S. military campaigns and the advice of our most experienced warfighters," Reed said in a statement

https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/surprise-move-head-us-military-latin-america-step-down-2025-10-16/

[NJCher]

6. why wait until the end of the year?

I'd have gotten out as soon as I saw this craziness spreading.

Trump has immunity, no one else does.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

2. The survivors weren't machine gunned in the water? We're getting soft. NT

[Baitball Blogger]

3. I can just see the photo opportunity.

Fisherman is enraged shouting, "Que Venezolano Americano voto para ese criminal, Trump?"

[SSJVegeta]

4. "Cooked."

As the kids say.

[Bayard]

5. Roh Roh....

So where are they? Did our military leave them to drown?

[NGeorgian]

7. I hope they don't bomb the cruise I am on in January**

Getting near in Curacao.

[riversedge]

8. It would be very convenient for the survivors to be actual drug runners..

[Aussie105]

9. The previous events, the ones

where boats were blown out of the water, leaving no survivors or evidence to back up the narcotics smuggler presumption, violate standard operational procedures.

You know, the standard intercept, examine cargo, deal with any narcotics smugglers according to law.