U.S. Reportedly Deploying Fighter Jets To Puerto Rico To Conduct Operations Against Cartels After Strike Against Venezuelan Vessel

The U.S. is deploying 10 fighter jets to a base in Puerto Rico to conduct operations against drug cartels in the region, according to a new report.

Citing sources familiar with the matter, Reuters reported that the jets should arrive in the area by late next week.

The development comes days after the U.S. attacked a vessel coming from Venezuela, killing 11 people on board. The administration has warned it will continue carrying out such strikes, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio anticipating "it will happen again."

Trump is "going to use the full power of America and the full might of the us to take on and eradicate these drug cartels no matter where they're operating from and no matter how long they've been able to act with impunity," Rubio said.

Tensions continued to escalate on Thursday night after 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.

The attack was questioned by Amnesty International, claiming 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.

"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.