Editing Openai/6931d9f0-f58c-8003-82b6-5a006c8e9eb3 (section)

==== - The justification: The U.S. government claims these vessels belonged to “narco‑terrorists” and part of a non-international armed conflict; critics argue there is no publicly disclosed evidence showing the boats were actively engaged in armed hostilities, or that the people aboard posed a threat requiring lethal force. Poynter Institute<ref>{{cite web|title=Poynter Institute|url=https://www.poynter.org/fact-checking/2025/us-military-strike-venezuelan-drug-vessel-legal-questions/|publisher=Poynter Institute|access-date=2025-12-05}}</ref> ====
* The status of those aboard: In at least one strike, reports say survivors were present — and reportedly killed in a follow‑up strike. That raises serious legal and human‑rights issues because under international humanitarian law and the laws of armed conflict, attacking shipwrecked or incapacitated persons is prohibited. Reuters<ref>{{cite web|title=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/are-deadly-us-strikes-alleged-drug-vessels-legal-2025-10-31/|publisher=reuters.com|access-date=2025-12-05}}</ref>
* Transparency: The government has not publicly released full evidence linking targeted vessels to drug‑trafficking networks (such as cargo manifests, chain-of-custody of seized drugs, criminal indictments). Many details remain classified or unverified in public reporting. Al Jazeera<ref>{{cite web|title=Al Jazeera|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/10/6/can-us-strikes-on-suspected-drug-boats-off-venezuela-be-legally-justified|publisher=Al Jazeera|access-date=2025-12-05}}</ref>
* International law concerns: Human‑rights organizations and international‑law experts argue the campaign sets a dangerous precedent — using military force under the “war on drugs” label in ways that could violate state sovereignty, maritime law, and human‑rights norms. Poynter Institute<ref>{{cite web|title=Poynter Institute|url=https://www.poynter.org/fact-checking/2025/us-military-strike-venezuelan-drug-vessel-legal-questions/|publisher=Poynter Institute|access-date=2025-12-05}}</ref>