US strike in Caribbean leaves survivors; 2 reportedly detained
The latest U.S. military strike in the Caribbean against an alleged drug boat left multiple survivors, with two being detained and held on a Navy ship, according to multiple news outlets.
Two individuals were killed in the Thursday strike against the vessel, which was purportedly smuggling illegal drugs, according to Reuters, which first reported on the development Thursday night.
The action appears to be the first strike by the Trump administration that left survivors since the military action against drug cartels in the Caribbean off Venezuela began in early September. It is unclear what the U.S. will do with detainees or what their legal status is now.
On Friday, President Trump said that the U.S. military hit a submarine during the Thursday operation.
“We attacked a submarine, and that was a drug-carrying submarine built specifically for the transportation of massive amounts of drugs,” the president told reporters at the White House with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky sitting across from him.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said more details could be released “later today.”
Both the Defense Department and the U.S. Southern Command (Southcom), which oversees all operations in Central and South America, referred The Hill to the White House for comment. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The first five boat strikes have killed 27 people, according to administration officials.
The latest strike came amid a flurry of activity related to U.S. operations in the region.
The Pentagon announced Thursday that four-star Navy Adm. Alvin Holsey, who is the commander of Southcom, will retire from the Navy on Dec. 12, less than a year into the position.
President Trump appeared to confirm Wednesday that he allowed the CIA to conduct operations in Venezuela, increasing pressure against Venezuela’s authoritarian leader Nicolás Maduro, whom the administration sees as an “illegitimate” leader.
The administration has beefed up its military presence in the Caribbean, with about 10,000 U.S. forces now supporting counternarcotics operations.
Updated at 2:36 p.m. EDT