India, Sept. 7 -- US Vice President JD Vance on Saturday strongly defended a deadly American airstrike on an alleged Venezuelan drug-smuggling boat in the Caribbean, dismissing critics who called it a war crime.

"Killing cartel members who poison our fellow citizens is the highest and best use of our military," Vance wrote on X on Saturday.

Responding to criticism that the strike violated international law, he added: "I don't give a sh*t what you call it."

The Trump administration said the vessel, destroyed Friday with 11 people killed, belonged to the Tren de Aragua gang, recently designated a terrorist organisation.

International law experts warned the attack may breach the UN Charter, which allows force only in self-defence or with...