Colombia’s President Gustavo Petro indicated Wednesday that the small boat recently attacked by the U.S. military off Venezuela’s coast may have been carrying Colombian citizens. Writing on X, Petro said, “Signs show that the last bombed boat was Colombian with Colombian citizens aboard,” though he did not clarify the basis for this claim and urged families to come forward. Neither his office nor Colombia’s Defense Ministry immediately provided further details.
The U.S. has not confirmed the identities of those on the boat or the three other vessels struck previously. Last Friday, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced a strike on a boat allegedly carrying drugs in Venezuelan waters, killing four men, without specifying their affiliations. Earlier strikes in September targeted vessels claimed to be transporting drugs or linked to terrorist groups, resulting in multiple deaths. Former President Trump treated such drug traffickers as unlawful combatants, justifying the military actions.
Meanwhile, Venezuelan Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino accused the U.S. of using false drug-trafficking claims to justify military strikes and push for regime change. Speaking to military leaders, Padrino warned the population about potential escalation, describing U.S. operations as “anti-political, anti-human, warmongering, rude and vulgar” and cautioning that the deployment of U.S. warships in the Caribbean should not be dismissed as mere propaganda.
