The US military carried out a new strike on Thursday targeting an alleged drug-trafficking vessel in the Caribbean, resulting in survivors, a first in a series of deadly operations, a US official told Reuters. The official, speaking anonymously, said it remains unclear whether the strike was intended to leave survivors. The incident, which had not been previously reported, raises serious questions about the objectives and conduct of the Trump administration’s growing military campaign in the region.

Legal experts and lawmakers are now seeking answers on whether the US military rendered aid to the survivors or if they are currently in custody, potentially as prisoners of war. The Pentagon did not comment on the matter, nor did it clarify the status of those who survived the strike.

The Trump administration has labeled those targeted in the operations as narcoterrorists and argues that the US is engaged in an active war against drug trafficking groups allegedly operating out of Venezuela.

Until now, at least 27 individuals had been killed in previous US strikes on similar vessels, with no prior reports of survivors. Videos released by the administration showed boats being destroyed, and the emergence of survivors marks a turning point in the controversial campaign.

Trinidadian families demand US to provide drug proof after strikes

On a related note, the recent US military strikes in the southern Caribbean have drawn outrage and calls for accountability after relatives of two Trinidadian men said they were killed in one of the attacks. Families of the deceased are demanding that the US provide evidence to support its claims of drug trafficking.

The US military has reportedly carried out at least six strikes on vessels it alleges were involved in narcotics smuggling, but has yet to provide any proof.

Backlash over strikes

The family of Chad Joseph, a 26-year-old from Trinidad, believes he was killed in a US strike on Tuesday, along with another Trinidadian man identified by media reports as Rishi Samaroo. Joseph had reportedly traveled to Venezuela, where he had relatives, six months ago to seek work.

Afisha Clement, Joseph’s cousin, described him as "humble" and a father figure to her young daughter. “I'm feeling very hurt. You know why? Donald Trump took a father, a brother, an uncle, a nephew from families. Donald Trump don't care what he is doing,” she said. She questioned the justification behind the strike. "If you say a boat has narcotics on it, where is the narcotics? We want evidence, we want proof. There is nothing," she added.

Joseph's 93-year-old great-uncle, Cecil McClean, labeled the strike a "perfect murder." He echoed the family's demand for proof: "There is nothing they could prove that they are coming across our waters with drugs. How could Trump prove the boat was bringing narcotics?"

Calls for evidence and transparency

Joseph's mother, Lenore Burnley, said she learned about her son's death through social media. She added that no one from the Trinidad and Tobago government has contacted her. “I put everything in God's hands; God will give me my satisfaction,” she said when asked what she would tell Trump.

The Trump administration has released limited information regarding the identities of those killed or the alleged cargos on the targeted vessels. The strike on Thursday reportedly left survivors, marking the first such case in the current operation, according to a US official speaking to Reuters.

In response to the US actions, Venezuela has formally requested that the United Nations Security Council examine the legality of the strikes. Caracas claims that the deadly attacks on vessels off its coast constitute a violation of international law and a breach of its sovereignty.

President Maduro has long maintained that the US seeks to remove him from power and has accused Washington of engaging in a campaign of destabilization. The latest incidents, paired with the admission of CIA involvement, have intensified diplomatic tensions in the region.