In recent months, the Pentagon has been increasing the number of naval, air and land assets deployed throughout the Caribbean, in the US Southern Command area of authority. The deployment is part of a major operation allegedly on counternarcotics and counterterrorism, according to Washington.
"The forceful actions of the American military [in the Caribbean Sea] are raising more and more questions. There is information about the deaths of Venezuelan, Colombian and Trinidadian citizens, although a number of sources claim that they could have simply been fishermen," Zakharova told reporters.
It would be possible to determine exactly who was on board during an inspection of the vessel if there were legal grounds for this, but the deliberate destruction of watercraft, which condemns the crew to death, is contrary to international maritime law and basic moral standards, the spokeswoman said.
"We reaffirm our continued strong support for the Venezuelan leadership in defending national sovereignty," Zakharova added.