US Military Strikes in Caribbean Prompt Congressional Briefing and Scrutiny
Pete Hegseth and Senator Marco Rubio are scheduled to brief Congress on Capitol Hill regarding recent US military vessel strikes in the Caribbean.
On Monday night, the US military announced it struck three boats in the eastern Pacific Ocean suspected of narcotics trafficking, resulting in eight fatalities. US Southern Command released footage of these strikes, noting the vessels were traveling along known narcotics trafficking routes in international waters.
These strikes are part of a broader campaign targeting Nicolás Maduro's regime, which has included increased naval presence, deployment of jets near Venezuelan airspace, and the seizure of an oil tanker. The campaign has raised concerns among lawmakers about the absence of congressional authorization.
Since the campaign's inception, over 20 boats have been destroyed and at least 95 people killed. However, Congress has received limited information regarding the campaign's objectives and methods.
In response, lawmakers are considering war powers resolutions as they examine the justification for the US actions against Venezuela. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer criticized the administration for lacking a clear objective behind these military operations.
