—meaning military intervention in a country which is a sovereign and independent country....it's ridiculous to think that they're fighting drug trafficking with nuclear submarines.”

Samuel Moncada, Venezuela's ambassador to the U.N described the deployment as “a massive propaganda operation to justify what the experts call kinetic action

but also a threat to the stability and self-determination of all the peoples of Latin America and the Caribbean.”

The US expedition has galvanised opposition around the region, with the Latin American and Caribbean trading bloc ALBA-TCP issuing a communique describing the military escalation as “a direct attack on Venezuela's independence,

The decision in early August 2025 to deploy the US military against “narco-terrorists” potentially leaves strikes by these forces outside Congressional authority.

In May 2025 Secretary of State Marco Rubio was concurrently appointed National Security Advisor—the first time since Henry Kissinger that someone has held both roles.

The legal cover for the tasking of the seven warships, surveillance aircraft, 2200 Marines and a nuclear attack submarine is an executive order in January 2025 and subsequent reclassification of eight organised crime syndicates as foreign terrorist organisations for the first time.

Israel hits Gaza hospital, killing at least 15 people, including journalists
www.reuters.com/world/middle...

“Israel deeply regrets the tragic mishap.”
x.com/netanyahu/st...

Israeli army says it ‘does not target’ journalists, after targeting and killing 5 journalists
mondoweiss.net/2025/08/isra...

Sources:

Image: © Abed Rahim Khatib/dpa via ZUMA Press APA Images

At least 4 Gazan journalists killed in Israeli strikes on Nasser hospital
cpj.org/2025/08/at-l...

Five journalists among 20 killed in Israeli strike on hospital, Gaza officials say
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

The International Criminal Court considers deliberate strikes on medical or rescue personnel prosecutable war crimes.

The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) now reports at least 196 journalists killed since the war began.

The “double-tap” strike technique is widely regarded as a war crime because it targets first responders, journalists, medics, and rescue workers who are protected under the Geneva Conventions. The attacks aim to deter rescue efforts and inflict further civilian harm.

Mohammed Salama, Mariam Abu Dagga, Ahmed Abu Aziz, and Moaz Abu Taha were killed when the hospital was hit again in a “double-tap” attack as rescuers gathered to evacuate the wounded. Reuters photographer Hatem Khaled was injured in the second strike.

Israeli airstrikes hit Nasser Hospital in southern Gaza twice, killing 20 people, including five journalists from Reuters, AP, Al Jazeera, Middle East Eye and NBC. Hussam al-Masri died in the initial strike;

Sources:

Dreigingsbeeld Statelijke Actoren 2025 (NL)
aivd.nl/documenten/pub…

Surveillance and interference: Israel’s covert war on the ICC exposed
972mag.com/icc-israel-sur…

Netherlands lists Israel as threatening state actor alongside Iran, Russia, Turkey
jpost.com/diaspora/antis���

The Netherlands’ "Threat Assessment State-sponsored Actors 2025" report was compiled by the National Coordinator for Terrorism and Security (NCTV) and released on 17 July 2025.

In relation to 'interference in diplomatic and political affairs' it cites the years-long US and Israeli campaign of sanctions and threats against the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court – both institutions based in the Netherlands.