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On Monday, the Venezuelan National Assembly essentially classified allegations of the U.S. military forces shooting survivors of a drug trafficking vessel in the Caribbean as war crimes and officially launched an investigation. Tensions between the U.S. and Venezuela have escalated following claims that American troops unlawfully killed civilians during operations after September 2.
On Monday, Jorge Rodriguez, President of Venezuela’s National Assembly, announced on social media that they would form a special committee investigating extrajudicial killings of civilians to probe the incident. Rodriguez stated that this decision followed discussions with the victims’ families, who alleged that U.S. forces had unlawfully terminated civilians during the operation.
Rodriguez specifically pointed to accusations against U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, claiming he ordered “kill everybody.” He denounced this as a violation of international law and the Geneva Conventions, calling it a war crime due to the inhumane treatment of civilians not directly involved in hostilities. The Venezuelan newspaper El Universal cited eyewitnesses claiming that despite two injured individuals remaining on the wreckage, orders were executed to the end, resulting in summary executions.
The controversy has spilled over into U.S. domestic politics. The Washington Post reported that Senator Roger Wicker (R-Mississippi), Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, pledged rigorous oversight to uncover the truth. Representative Mike Rogers (R-Ala.), Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, echoed this commitment, emphasizing the need for thorough scrutiny of Caribbean military operations.
Underlying the incident is the significant troop build-up by the U.S. in the region. The U.S. has deployed its largest force to the Caribbean in decades targeting vessels suspected of drug trafficking, with reports of at least 83 fatalities. Some interpret this as a strategic move to pressure Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro into resignation.
Moreover, reports have emerged of a recent phone call in which U.S. President Donald Trump allegedly demanded Maduro’s immediate resignation. Some Western media outlets speculate this signals potential U.S. military action against Venezuela under the pretext of cartel interdiction operations.
In response to mounting pressure, Maduro called for national unity and resilience on Instagram the previous day. He stated that the nation requires greater resolve and organization, emphasizing that while Venezuela welcomes international cooperation, it will not depend on any foreign power.
