U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed on Friday that a U.S. military operation targeted a suspected “drug-carrying submarine” in the Caribbean. The strike resulted in the deaths of two individuals, while two survivors are currently in custody aboard a U.S. navy ship.
During a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the White House, Trump stated that the submarine was specifically designed for transporting large quantities of drugs. However, he did not provide details on the casualties or the number of survivors. Secretary of State Marco Rubio acknowledged the presence of survivors but indicated that further information would be shared later.
According to reports from Reuters, sources familiar with the matter revealed that two survivors were rescued following the strike. This disclosure suggests that these survivors could be the first prisoners of war in the conflict initiated by Trump against what he describes as a “narcoterrorist” threat linked to Venezuela.
Prior to this incident, previous U.S. military strikes against suspected drug boats near Venezuela did not yield any survivors. These strikes commenced in early September, with videos released by the Trump administration showing vessels being destroyed. However, details about the individuals aboard these boats or their cargo have not been publicly disclosed.
Reports suggest that the targeted vessel on Thursday may have been a semi-submersible, a type of vessel used by drug traffickers to evade detection. Following the attack, the U.S. military conducted a helicopter rescue operation to retrieve the survivors and transport them to a U.S. warship.
Concerns have been raised by U.S. lawmakers, legal experts, and some politicians, including Senators Rand Paul and Lisa Murkowski, regarding the legality and implications of these military actions. Trump’s authorization of covert CIA operations within Venezuela has fueled speculation about efforts to undermine President Nicolas Maduro’s regime.
Amid escalating tensions, the Pentagon announced the early resignation of Adm. Alvin Holsey, who heads U.S. military forces in Latin America. This decision has raised questions about the administration’s military strategy in the region, particularly regarding potential confrontations with Venezuela.
The Pentagon also recently reassigned the leadership of counter-narcotics operations in the region from the Southern Command to the II Marine Expeditionary Force, located at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina. This unexpected change in command structure has surprised military observers, as high-profile operations are typically overseen by combatant commands like the Southern Command.