Alleged drug smugglers jumped overboard in latest boat strikes, U.S. military says

Washington — Individuals connected committee 2 alleged cause smuggling boats jumped into the h2o aft an archetypal onslaught connected different vessel connected Tuesday, the U.S. subject said.   

U.S. Southern Command announced Wednesday that 3 "narco-trafficking vessels traveling arsenic a convoy" were struck successful "international waters" a time earlier. Three radical were killed erstwhile the archetypal vessel was hit, according to Southern Command, bringing the estimated decease toll successful the monthslong subject run against alleged cause smugglers to astatine slightest 110. 

"The remaining narco-terrorists abandoned the different 2 vessels, jumping overboard and distancing themselves earlier follow-on engagements sank their respective vessels," Southern Command said, adding that the U.S. Coast Guard had been notified for search-and-rescue efforts. 

In a abstracted statement, the Coast Guard said it was notified Tuesday astir "mariners successful distress successful the Pacific Ocean." 

"The U.S. Coast Guard is coordinating search-and-rescue operations with vessels successful the area, and a Coast Guard C-130 craft is en way to supply further hunt sum with the quality to driblet a endurance raft and supplies," the connection said. 

As galore arsenic 8 radical abandoned the remaining 2 vessels, 3 U.S. officials told CBS News. One of the officials said the strikes were conducted successful the eastbound Pacific Ocean. 

A 46-second video of the strikes did not look to amusement immoderate survivors successful the water. 

The Trump administration's handling of survivors has travel under aggravated scrutiny, with immoderate critics accusing it of committing imaginable warfare crimes aft a follow-up onslaught connected Sept. 2 killed 2 survivors. Two men who survived a onslaught successful the Caribbean Sea connected Oct. 16 were detained by the U.S. Navy and repatriated to their countries of origin, prompting questions astir the information the Trump medication has claimed alleged cause traffickers airs to the U.S. Strikes connected Oct. 27 successful the Pacific near 1 survivor, who has since been presumed dead.  

Members of Congress — mostly Democrats — have sought to rein successful the vessel strikes, which travel arsenic the Trump medication escalates unit against Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. The medication has accused Maduro of cause trafficking and moving with gangs designated by the U.S. arsenic violent organizations, which Maduro denies.

Lawmakers person raised alarm that the strikes, which person not been authorized by Congress, could pb to warfare with Venezuela and person questioned their legality.

President Trump, who has repeatedly threatened onshore strikes against Venezuela, said the U.S. "knocked out" a "big facility" past week linked to the alleged cause smuggling operations, but his medication has provided fewer details connected the matter. 

"There was a large detonation successful the dock country wherever they load the boats up with drugs," Mr. Trump told reporters Monday successful Florida. 

Many Republicans person defended the strikes, including aft the medication acknowledged that 2 survivors of the Sept. 2 vessel onslaught were killed successful a follow-up strike. 

Both critics and defenders of the Sept. 2 follow-up onslaught person called for the video to beryllium released to the public, but Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the Pentagon has nary plans to bash so.

Nicole Sganga and Eleanor Watson contributed to this report.