Amnesty International Questions U.S. Attack Against Venezuelan Vessel: 'Serious Doubts About Its Legality'

Amnesty International questioned the Trump administration's attack against a Venezuelan vessel on Tuesday, claiming that there are "serious doubts about its legality."

"The U.S. must prove in each attack that it only employed intentional lethal force when strictly inevitable and seeking to protect life," said Daphne Eviatar, director of Security with Human Rights at the organization's U.S. chapter.

Amnesty International added that it also has doubts about "accountability and respect for human rights' international rights."

"If confirmed, the attack would be a clear violation of the right to life based on international and human rights law and would set a dangerous precedent. The use of lethal force in this context has no justification whatsoever," the statement adds.

The Trump administration has disregarded criticism of the attack, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio recently dismissing a UN report claiming that most drug-trafficking in South America takes place in Colombia and Ecuador, rather than Venezuela.

Speaking at a press conference along with Ecuadorean counterpart Gabriela Sommerfeld, Rubio rejected the report brought up by a journalist, noting that 5% of all drug-trafficking in the region goes through Venezuela, compared to 87% in Colombia and Ecuador.

"I don't care what the UN says. He's a fugitive from U.S. justice indicted by a New York grand jury. He's not the legitimate leader of Venezuela," Rubio added.

Tensions keep escalating in the region, with authoritarian President Nicolas Maduro saying he will begin "mobilizing" civilian militias following the attack.

The call will take place on Friday, with Maduro saying he expects over 8 million people to join after "joining the national defense system." He added that the "powerful base," comprised of some 4.5 million who have been "trained for years" will be the cornerstone of the mobilization.

Elsewhere, two Venezuelan jets flew near a U.S. Navy ship, a move the Pentagon called "highly provocative" and "designated to interfere with our counter narco-terror operations."

"The cartel running Venezuela is strongly advised not to pursue any further effort to obstruct, deter or interfere with counter-narcotics and counter-terror operations carried out by the U.S. military," the department added.