US Military Strike Targets Venezuelan Drug Boat, Resulting in 11 Fatalities
President Donald Trump has announced that U.S. military forces executed a strike on a vessel in the southern Caribbean, resulting in the deaths of 11 suspected members of Venezuela's Tren de Aragua gang, a group known for drug trafficking activities.
During a Tuesday briefing at the White House, Trump stated that the boat was operating in international waters and was carrying narcotics destined for the United States. He commented on the significant amount of drugs onboard and mentioned he was informed by General Dan Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
Trump later shared on Truth Social: “Earlier this morning, on my Orders, US Military Forces conducted a kinetic strike against positively identified Tren de Aragua narcoterrorists in the SOUTHCOM area of responsibility. The strike resulted in 11 terrorists killed in action. No US Forces were harmed.”
The post included aerial footage showing a motorboat navigating turbulent waters before bursting into flames. Venezuela's communications minister, Freddy Ñáñez, dismissed the footage as AI-generated; however, Reuters indicated their initial review showed no signs of tampering.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed the military action, noting on X: “Today the US military conducted a lethal strike in the southern Caribbean against a drug vessel which had departed from Venezuela and was being operated by a designated narco-terrorist organisation.”
Rising Tensions with Caracas
This military strike highlights the increasing U.S. pressure on Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, whom the U.S. accuses of sheltering drug cartels. Recently, the Trump administration has placed a $50 million bounty on Maduro for his alleged involvement in drug trafficking and has labeled several Latin American criminal groups as terrorist organizations.
In response to the military measures, Venezuela expressed strong disapproval. On Monday, Maduro threatened to “declare a republic in arms” if attacked, criticizing recent U.S. naval deployments as “the greatest threat that has been seen on our continent in the last 100 years.”
Despite the tensions, the Trump administration has discreetly permitted Chevron to maintain joint operations with Venezuela's state-controlled PDVSA oil company.
This incident represents one of the most direct actions taken by the U.S. military against alleged Venezuelan drug traffickers in recent times. Trump warned cartels and gangs, stating: “Please let this serve as notice to anybody even thinking about bringing drugs into the United States of America. BEWARE!”
