The US has struck another vessel off the coast of Venezuela on Tuesday, killing six people, President Donald Trump has said.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump claimed the vessel belonged to narcoterrorists and was trafficking narcotics. This operation marks the fifth strike initiated by the Trump administration since September on boats accused of drug trafficking in international waters, resulting in a total of 27 reported fatalities. However, details about the identities of the vessels involved and those on board have not been disclosed.

Legal experts question the legality of these strikes under international law, an opinion echoed by neighboring countries like Colombia and Venezuela, which have condemned the military actions.

In his update, Trump asserted that intelligence confirmed the vessel was trafficking narcotics, was associated with illicit narcoterrorist networks, and was transiting along a known route for smuggling. He also shared an aerial video illustrating the moment the missile struck the small vessel.

While the US has asserted its strikes are acts of self-defense, many lawyers have challenged this perspective based on the principles of international law. Trump’s administration describes the situation as a non-international armed conflict against drug cartels.

This assertion seems aimed at justifying the use of expanded wartime powers, which could allow for actions including the killing of so-called enemy fighters without immediate threats, or indefinite detentions.

The ongoing military operations coincide with a $50 million bounty offered for information leading to the arrest of Venezuela's President Nicolás Maduro, who faces accusations of drug trafficking from the US and who denies these allegations.

The Venezuelan government has expressed indignation regarding these strikes, while officials have cast doubt on the authenticity of the footage released by Trump. Critics maintain that these military actions are more about political maneuvering against Maduro’s presidency, which has been widely rejected on the international stage.