The US has already carried out more than 20 attacks on ships in the Caribbean Sea, which is being presented as a fight against drug trafficking.

On November 15, the Pentagon struck a ship suspected of carrying drugs for the 21st time, reports CNNMeanwhile, according to a survey conducted by Reuters In conjunction with Ipsos, only 35% of Americans support using the US military in Venezuela to reduce the flow of illegal drugs into the US.

"Intelligence confirmed the vessel was involved in the illegal transportation of narcotics along a known smuggling route," U.S. Southern Command reported. "The vessel was engaged in the illegal transportation of narcotics in the Eastern Pacific Ocean and was struck in international waters," the statement said.

The latest attack brings the death toll from US military strikes on suspected drug ships to 83. The military is using a variety of fighter jets, drones, and attack helicopters in the strikes.

On the subject: Trump may deploy troops and begin a ground operation in Venezuela: a US aircraft carrier has already been dispatched to its shores.

The attack comes days after a Pentagon spokesman said the US carried out its 20th strike on a suspected drug ship last week.

The Justice Department told Congress that the administration does not require its approval to carry out the strikes, though some experts believe the practice violates U.S. and international law. The ongoing campaign has begun to strain relations with allies: the United Kingdom has stopped sharing intelligence with the United States on suspected drug vessels to avoid complicity in strikes it considers illegal.

Colombia's president said last week he had ordered a suspension of intelligence sharing with the United States until the strikes stopped.

A Reuters/Ipsos poll found that in the United States alone, only 29% of Americans support using the military to kill drug trafficking suspects without trial.

A six-day survey that ended November 12 found that 51% of respondents oppose the killing of drug trafficking suspects, while the rest were undecided.

In this poll, 27% of Republicans opposed the practice, 58% supported it, and the rest were undecided. Three-quarters of Democrats opposed it, and only one in ten supported it.

Human rights groups, including Amnesty International, have condemned the strikes as unlawful extrajudicial killings of civilians, and some US allies have expressed growing concern that Washington may be violating international law.

The strikes, which Trump and the Pentagon have frequently showcased in online videos, are a stark departure from the traditional approach in which the U.S. Coast Guard intercepts drug-smuggling vessels and prosecutes the smugglers.

The White House claims America is at war with drug cartels, and that trials are unnecessary in armed conflicts. The US accuses the Venezuelan government of colluding with drug traffickers. Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro denies these accusations. Venezuela is preparing its defenses in the event of a US attack.

Combating drug trafficking is a key plank of Trump's presidential platform. He has publicly threatened to strike Venezuela, although he recently stated that he has no immediate intention of attacking the country.

US involvement in Venezuela would run counter to Trump's campaign promise to avoid "stupid wars" and his claims to be trying to solve global crises, for which he says he deserves the Nobel Peace Prize.

Only 35% of respondents to a Reuters/Ipsos poll said they supported using the U.S. military in Venezuela to reduce the flow of illegal drugs into the United States without permission from the Venezuelan government.

The US Navy aircraft carrier Gerald R. Ford and its strike group recently entered the Caribbean Sea, dramatically increasing the US military presence in the region.

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Maduro, in power since 2013, claims the US's growing presence is aimed at his overthrow, and Trump recently warned that Maduro's days in power are "numbered." Last month, Trump confirmed that he had authorized the CIA to conduct covert operations in Venezuela.

Only 21% of survey respondents supported using the US military to overthrow Maduro, while 31% supported trying to get rid of him through non-violent means.

Trump administration officials openly hope that Maduro's generals and other members of his entourage will turn their backs on him. In August, the US doubled the reward for information leading to Maduro's arrest to $50 million.

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