US Vice President JD Vance has ignited a firestorm after bluntly defending a deadly US military strike in the Caribbean that killed 11 people aboard a suspected Venezuelan drug-smuggling vessel.
&ldquo;Killing cartel members who poison our fellow citizens is the highest and best use of our military,&rdquo; Vance declared on X, brushing aside concerns raised by critics who warned the killings may amount to war crimes.
His response came after political commentator Brian Krassenstein argued, &ldquo;Killing the citizens of another nation who are civilians without any due process is called a war crime.&rdquo; Vance shot back with a stark dismissal: &ldquo;I don&rsquo;t give a s**t what you call it.&rdquo;
The operation, announced earlier by President Donald Trump, targeted what US officials described as a &ldquo;drug-carrying&rdquo; vessel linked to Tren de Aragua, a Venezuelan group designated as a narco-terrorist organization. Secretary of State Marco Rubio defended the strike as a decisive blow against organized crime.
But the attack has sharply escalated tensions with Caracas. Venezuelan President Nicol&aacute;s Maduro accused Washington of attempting &ldquo;regime change&rdquo; and warned he was ready to &ldquo;declare a republic in arms&rdquo; if threatened.
Critics say the killings raise profound questions under international law, with some linking it to an extrajudicial execution. Krassenstein pressed the point with a stark analogy: &ldquo;Imagine if Venezuela decided to bomb a boat driving from Maryland to New York City, which had 11 Americans and a bunch of drugs in it. What would be your response?&rdquo;
Vance&rsquo;s remarks have drawn fierce backlash online. Religious opponents reminded the Catholic vice president of biblical teachings, with one user quoting scripture: &ldquo;Murder is wrong.&rdquo; Others accused him of committing &ldquo;sins that cry out to heaven for vengeance.&rdquo;
The controversy underscores the widening gulf between Washington&rsquo;s hardline anti-narcotics strategy and international calls for restraint, even as Venezuela warns of retaliation.

Vance Defends Strike: ‘Don’t care If War Crime’

US VP sparks outrage after blunt defense of deadly strike on Venezuelan vessel

Vance Defends Strike: ‘Don’t care If War Crime’

US VP sparks outrage after blunt defense of deadly strike on Venezuelan vessel

September 8, 2025 | 01:13 IST