President Donald Trump has recently warned airlines to avoid Venezuelan airspace as his administration intensifies military operations against drug trafficking organizations. In a social media post on November 29, Trump advised "all airlines, pilots, drug dealers and human traffickers" to refrain from flying in areas surrounding Venezuela, suggesting potential land strikes against these groups.

The U.S. has positioned significant military assets near Venezuela, including its largest aircraft carrier and two guided missile destroyers, with approximately 12,000 troops stationed in the region. The administration's actions are partly justified by the need to combat illegal drugs, particularly fentanyl, which is linked to a substantial number of deaths in the United States. However, experts have pointed out that Venezuela is not a major source of fentanyl, with most cocaine entering the U.S. from Mexico.

The military operations have included attacks on at least 21 boats in international waters, resulting in the deaths of 83 individuals, many of whom were Venezuelan. Critics, including former military officials and legal analysts, have described these strikes as illegal and akin to extrajudicial killings, a sentiment echoed by the United Nations' High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, who stated that the strikes violate international human rights law.

In light of these events, U.S. Senators from both parties are investigating allegations that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth directed military personnel to ensure there were no survivors in airstrikes targeting vessels suspected of drug trafficking. Reports indicate that Hegseth ordered a second strike on a vessel in the Caribbean on September 2, which had already been struck, resulting in the deaths of survivors from the initial attack. This incident is part of a broader military campaign that has led to over a dozen attacks on alleged drug-running boats, raising questions about the legality of these operations.

Senators Roger Wicker and Jack Reed have announced plans for oversight regarding the circumstances of the drug boat strike, reflecting bipartisan concern over the legality of military operations in this context. Legal experts have suggested that if the second strike was aimed at incapacitated individuals, it could be classified as a war crime. Hegseth has defended the operations as lawful under both U.S. and international law, asserting that they are necessary to combat drug trafficking and protect the American public.

The Pentagon has maintained that these military actions are conducted within the framework of the law of armed conflict, but the implications of such operations raise significant questions about the balance between national security and adherence to legal and humanitarian standards. The Trump administration's approach to Venezuela and drug trafficking continues to be scrutinized, particularly as it suggests a willingness to use lethal force without seeking congressional approval.