Trump claimed the strike killed three men from Venezuela, labeling him as “confirming a narcoterrorist,” reaffirming his commitment to continuing to target suspicious drug traffickers.
“Beware – if you’re transporting drugs that can kill Americans, we’re hunting you!” Trump wrote on social media.
Trump later told reporters that the administration had evidence that the target ship was carrying drugs towards the United States. His social media post included a video showing the container wrapped in a fiery explosion.
Trump said he believes the airstrikes have curbed the flow of drugs to the United States on the water, and proposed to take similar steps against cartels smuggled into the United States across the land’s borders.
“When they come to land, we’re going to stop them just like we stopped the boat,” he said.
The strike marks the second attack on drug trafficking vessels this month. The US strike on a ship leaving Venezuela earlier this month prompted lawmakers on both parties to raise concerns about the legality of the attack.
Many Democrats pushed the White House to provide legal justification a few days after the first strike. The White House repeatedly argued that it had suppressed laws governing “armed conflict” to justify its strike.
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