All articles tagged with #boat strikes
The US Coast Guard is searching for survivors in the eastern Pacific after military strikes on alleged drug-smuggling boats resulted in multiple deaths and people jumping overboard, amid ongoing US military operations targeting drug trafficking vessels in the region.
The U.S. military reported striking three alleged drug smuggling vessels in the Pacific, resulting in at least five deaths and the abandonment of others by the suspects, amid ongoing operations against narco-traffickers linked to Venezuela. The strikes have raised legal and ethical questions, especially regarding the treatment of survivors and the escalation of military actions without congressional approval.
The U.S. military has conducted its 30th strike against a vessel suspected of drug smuggling in the eastern Pacific, resulting in at least 107 deaths since September. The strikes, justified by the Trump administration as necessary to combat drug flow into the U.S., have also included actions in Venezuela, where the U.S. claims to target drug-loading facilities. These operations have faced scrutiny and controversy, especially regarding the use of force and the release of strike footage.
The US military conducted strikes on three boats in the eastern Pacific, killing eight people, claiming they were linked to terrorist organizations and drug smuggling, amid increasing congressional scrutiny and escalating tensions with Venezuela's Maduro.
The US military conducted strikes on three boats in the eastern Pacific accused of drug smuggling, killing eight people, amid increasing congressional scrutiny over the campaign, which has resulted in at least 95 deaths since September. The strikes are part of a broader effort to combat drug trafficking and pressure Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, with upcoming congressional briefings expected to address the campaign's implications.
The US has conducted its 10th missile strike on a vessel suspected of drug trafficking, escalating its campaign with three strikes in a week, raising legal and international concerns while President Trump asserts authority to target drug traffickers without congressional approval.
Fact-checking Trump's claim that each boat strike off Venezuela's coast saves 25,000 lives; experts and evidence suggest the claim is exaggerated and unsubstantiated, with no clear link between the strikes and lives saved.
Colombia's President Gustavo Petro criticized the Trump administration's boat strikes against narco traffickers, calling them ineffective and akin to murder, suggesting they are merely for show.
Democrats are caught between holding the military accountable for alleged Venezuelan drug trafficking vessel strikes and avoiding the appearance of defending cartels, with efforts to push for congressional authorization and oversight amid mixed Republican support.
A rare North Atlantic right whale calf off the coast of South Carolina is expected to die from serious injuries likely caused by a boat propeller, highlighting the ongoing threat of vessel strikes and entanglements in fishing gear to the critically endangered species. Efforts to reduce boat speed limits near the whales' habitat have been unsuccessful, with fewer than 360 of the whales remaining. Conservation groups have urged the federal government to tighten vessel speed rules to protect the whales, emphasizing the preventable nature of these threats. Biologists stress the critical role of North Atlantic right whales in the marine ecosystem, as they help promote the growth of phytoplankton, which forms the foundation of the marine food web.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is reviewing the status of the West Indian manatee, including populations in Florida and Puerto Rico, after a recent manatee die-off and petitions from environmental organizations. Despite being reclassified as "threatened" in 2017, manatees still face challenges such as boat strikes, habitat loss, and cold stress. Water quality issues, including algal blooms, remain a top concern, as they can cut off the manatees' food supply. Conservation efforts, including rescuing orphaned calves and rehabilitating them for release, are ongoing to help protect and preserve the manatee population.