Ex-Pentagon Official: Venezuela Boat Attack Was ‘Murder, Not War'
Ex-Pentagon counsel called the Venezuela drone strike “murder,” stressing no imminent threat and no legal basis for military action.
United States, PUREWILAYAH.COM - The Pentagon has blocked senior congressional staff from receiving a classified briefing on a deadly U.S. drone strike off the coast of Venezuela, intensifying concerns over legality, war powers oversight, and the Trump administration’s expanding military campaign in the Caribbean.
Earlier this month, U.S. forces launched a drone strike that killed 11 people aboard a boat near Venezuela. While the operation was allegedly part of a broader anti-narcoterrorism campaign, it has since faced sharp criticism from lawmakers, legal experts, and human rights advocates.
Critics argue the strike lacked congressional authorization, violated international law, and marked a dangerous escalation of U.S. military operations in the region.
Details of Strike Remain Shrouded in Secrecy
On Monday, President Donald Trump confirmed a second attack on another vessel in the U.S. Southern Command’s area of responsibility, which covers the Caribbean and Latin America. Posting on TruthSocial, Trump declared:
“BE WARNED — IF YOU ARE TRANSPORTING DRUGS THAT CAN KILL AMERICANS, WE ARE HUNTING YOU!”
Although Trump released edited footage of both strikes, vital details regarding planning, execution, and legal justification remain classified and withheld from Congress.
Reports also suggest the Venezuelan boat may have been turning back toward shore when it was struck, with survivors allegedly killed in a follow-up attack.
Congress Denied Access, Lawmakers Sound Alarm
The Pentagon has barred senior House staff and key oversight committees from briefings, citing heightened security protocols.
Only a limited number of Armed Services staff were given access to classified updates, while committees responsible for war powers oversight were excluded.
Rep. Sara Jacobs strongly criticized the administration, saying:
“This is why it’s never been more important for Congress to reclaim our war powers responsibilities.”
Senator Tim Kaine and over two dozen Democratic senators have sent a letter to the White House demanding answers to ten specific questions about the drone strike. Meanwhile, Rep. Ilhan Omar introduced a resolution to terminate hostilities against Venezuela and organizations unilaterally designated as “terrorist groups.”
Legal Experts Denounce Strike as ‘Premeditated Murder’
Former Pentagon counsel Sarah Harrison condemned the drone strike, describing it as “murder” rather than a legitimate act of war. She stressed that no imminent threat existed and that designating cartels as “terrorist groups” does not authorize military force.
“The killing of all 11 of these men was illegal. This was a premeditated murder,” Harrison said.
“Under domestic law and international human rights law, lethal force is only justified in cases of imminent threat.”
Sarah Yager, Washington director at Human Rights Watch, warned:
“This president believes that he can kill anyone, anywhere, under any circumstances and not have to rationalize it.”
Expanding U.S. Military Footprint in the Caribbean
The drone strikes are part of a broader escalation. On Saturday, a U.S. Navy destroyer boarded a Venezuelan tuna boat and detained nine fishermen for eight hours, an act Caracas denounced as “hostile” and a violation of sovereignty.
The U.S. military presence in the region has surged, with:
4,500 troops deployed,
Seven warships and a nuclear-powered submarine,
F-35 stealth fighters stationed in Puerto Rico,
MQ-9 Reaper drones spotted at Coast Guard Air Station Borinquen,
Renovations underway at the former Roosevelt Roads Naval Station in Puerto Rico.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio openly warned that such operations would continue, while Secretary of War Pete Hegseth suggested regime change in Venezuela was a “presidential-level decision.”
Rising Fears of a New ‘Forever War’ in Latin America
Last month, President Trump signed a secret directive authorizing military force against Latin American cartels designated as terrorist organizations. He also doubled the bounty on Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro to $50 million.
Rep. Jacobs warned:
“We can’t let Donald Trump drag us into another forever war that our youngest generations will pay for with their lives and tax dollars.” (PW)