The Venezuelan boat destroyed by U.S. armed forces appeared to have turned around before the attack, according to The New York Times. The boat reportedly spotted the military aircraft before the course change.
Boat turned around
That boat was moving through the Caribbean last week before the U.S. military repeatedly struck it from the air, killing 11 people. Video shared by President Donald Trump shows the moment the attack happened.
The New York Times cited American officials familiar with the incident who said that the boat changed course once it spotted the military aircraft watching them.
The president authorized the strike, claiming the boat was carrying drugs.
“The strike occurred while the terrorists were at sea in International waters transporting illegal narcotics, heading to the United States,” Trump said in the post.
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Legal issues
The U.S. has not provided evidence that there were drugs on board the boat.
Experts have expressed concerns over the legality of the attack and treating alleged drug smugglers the same as an imminent armed attack against the U.S.
Vice President JD Vance has been supportive of the attack but also acknowledged concerns.
“I understand the concerns about due process, I understand some of the criticisms that have been raised, but this is not a situation where we can send the Navy SEALs into these places, arrest them and give them a proper civil trial or criminal trial,” Vance said in the interview.
The Trump administration defended the action, saying military force was permissible under the laws of armed conflict.
