At least three people have died after a boat carrying migrants capsized off the southern coast of Crete, Greece’s public broadcaster ERT reported on Tuesday, citing the coastguard.

According to ERT, a total of 56 people have been rescued so far, while the search for other possible passengers continues in the rough seas.

The Greek coastguard confirmed that rescue efforts were ongoing late Tuesday evening.

A chilling video published by ERT showed the overloaded vessel moments before it overturned.

The clip, recorded by rescuers, captured the cries for help from migrants packed onto the small boat. Seconds later, the video abruptly stopped as the vessel capsized for reasons that remain unclear.

Several coastguard ships, an air force helicopter, and a rescue boat from the EU border protection agency, Frontex, were deployed to the area as part of the emergency response.

Survivors were transported to Crete, where they received immediate medical attention.

Authorities said the rescued migrants told investigators they had departed from the Libyan port city of Tobruk, a key departure point for smugglers attempting to reach Europe through the Mediterranean.

The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) revealed that nearly 16,000 migrants have arrived on Crete since the beginning of 2025 a staggering 300 percent increase compared to last year.

Greek officials have attributed the rise to worsening conditions in North Africa and renewed instability in Libya.

The Greek government has since renewed calls for a fairer distribution of asylum seekers across European Union member states.

Athens argues that front-line nations such as Greece, Italy, and Malta continue to shoulder a disproportionate share of the migration burden.

The tragic incident off Crete highlights the deadly risks migrants face as they attempt to cross the Mediterranean  one of the world’s most dangerous migration routes.

The source of funding for Boko Haram and other terrorist groups in Nigeria remains unclear, according to U.S. Congressman Bill Huizenga, who expressed concern over ongoing religiously targeted violence in the country.

Huizenga made the remarks during an interview with Arise News, monitored by Diaspora Digital Media, where he addressed insecurity, religious persecution, and potential U.S. responses to worsening violence in Nigeria.

He highlighted that attacks by radical Islamist groups and Fulani militants continue to target both Christians and moderate Muslims.

“It’s hard to deny that when you see 200 Christians slaughtered on Christmas Eve a few years ago, it was clearly a coordinated attack,” he said.

Huizenga stressed that affected communities feel deliberately targeted. “When homes are invaded or people are attacked in the middle of the night, this is not random they feel singled out.”

Reacting to U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent comments condemning the killings, Huizenga said, “I, too, was surprised by how forcefully the president spoke.

I suspect direct military intervention in Nigeria is not a high priority. Instead, other forms of action like sanctions and economic pressure would likely be preferred.”

He ruled out the possibility of an immediate U.S. military response, citing alternative approaches to address the crisis.

“Sanctions and economic restrictions could effectively cut off funding and limit travel for terrorist operatives,” he explained.

The congressman also pointed out that the ongoing U.S. government shutdown had delayed congressional hearings that could draw attention to Nigeria’s security challenges.

“Our priority has been reopening domestic government operations, but international issues remain important,” he said.

Huizenga emphasized that applying economic pressure can significantly disrupt terrorist activities, even as the identity of funders remains unknown.

“We don’t yet know exactly who finances these operations  whether Fulani groups or Boko Haram  but targeting financial channels will have an impact,” he said.

He concluded by urging the Nigerian government to take the security crisis more seriously.

“I want this issue treated with urgency. I’m not convinced Nigeria has acted as decisively as needed,” Huizenga added.

These comments come amid renewed debate on the U.S. stance toward Nigeria’s security situation, following President Trump’s condemnation of mass killings in northern Nigeria.

Venezuela has begun what it describes as a “massive mobilization” of troops, weapons, and equipment in direct response to the growing buildup of US military power in the Caribbean Sea.

Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino López announced on Tuesday that land, air and naval forces – along with the Bolivarian Militia – will conduct nationwide exercises through Wednesday.

He said the mobilization was ordered by President Nicolás Maduro to counter the “imperialist threat” posed by the United States.

These drills are scheduled to involve the Bolivarian Militia, a force of armed civilians created by the late President Hugo Chávez, as part of Venezuela’s “Independence Plan 200.” The plan consists of a civic-military defense strategy aimed at integrating regular troops, militia members, and police within one chain of command.

“Our mission is to optimize command, control and communications in defending our homeland,” López said.

The move comes just as the USS Gerald R. Ford, America’s largest aircraft carrier, entered the US Southern Command area of operations—an area that covers most of Latin America.

Tensions Soar as US Expands Regional Presence

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered the Ford’s redeployment from Europe to the Caribbean late last month. The carrier strike group includes two guided-missile destroyers, a missile-defense command ship, nine air squadrons, and more than 4,000 sailors.

Washington has framed the operation as part of a renewed war on drug trafficking, maintaining that the increased military presence seeks to staunch the flow of narcotics into the US. Caracas accuses Washington of plotting regime change and points to former President Donald Trump’s public comments about using force in Venezuela as proof.

Last month, Trump acknowledged he had authorized CIA operations inside the country and hinted at military action; administration officials later downplayed that language.

Maduro’s Show of Strength

Maduro’s government says its armed forces of about 123,000 active personnel are supported by more than 8 million reservists, though analysts doubt the accuracy of those figures.

Military analysts estimate that there are now approximately 15,000 US troops across the region, with major deployments in Puerto Rico, the Caribbean Sea, and Central America.

US military hardware now includes F-35 fighter jets, Reaper drones, guided-missile destroyers, and submarines, all operating close to Venezuelan territory.

In the past few weeks, the US has flown several bomber drills near Venezuela’s coast, including what the Pentagon described as an “attack demonstration” in late October.

Regional observers now fear that one miscalculation could spark a major confrontation in Latin America, already strained by economic crises and political instability as both sides escalate deployments.