What we’re looking into after Trump says US attacked drug-carrying boat off Venezuelapublished at 10:42 British Summer Time
Thomas Copeland
BBC Verify Live journalist
US President Donald Trump says the US has carried out a strike against a vessel in the southern Caribbean killing 11 people he called “narcoterrorists”.
Our team at BBC Verify is looking into what we know about the strike and its legality.
The president posted on social media that a military operation on Tuesday had targeted members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua – which the Trump administration has designated a terrorist organisation.
The post was accompanied by a grainy aerial video showing a boat speeding across choppy waters before it bursts into flames.
Trump said the vessel was in international waters and was transporting illegal narcotics bound for the US.
We’re speaking to experts about the legality of the strike with reference to maritime, international and US law.
We’re also looking into an unsubstantiated claim by Venezuela’s communications minister that the video shared by Trump was made using artificial intelligence.
