The US military destroyed a Venezuela vessel allegedly carrying narcotics in the Caribbean, killing 11 people, officials confirmed on Tuesday.
President Donald Trump announced the strike, saying the boat was linked to drug trafficking operations. He later shared drone footage on his Truth Social platform, showing a speedboat exploding and catching fire at sea.
Trump said the crew of the Venezuela vessel were members of Tren de Aragua, a gang that Washington labeled a terrorist group in February. He accused Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro of controlling the organization, a claim Caracas denies.
“The strike resulted in 11 terrorists killed in action. No US forces were harmed,” Trump told reporters at the White House.
The Pentagon has not released details about the strike, including the type or amount of drugs on board, or how the operation was carried out. The unusual decision to destroy the suspected drug boat rather than seize it has raised comparisons to past US military actions against extremist groups.
The operation comes after the US increased its naval presence in the southern Caribbean. Seven warships, along with a nuclear-powered fast attack submarine and more than 4,500 sailors and Marines, are now stationed in the region.
The naval force includes the USS San Antonio, USS Iwo Jima, and USS Fort Lauderdale, ships capable of deploying helicopters and Tomahawk cruise missiles. US officials also confirmed P-8 spy planes have been flying over international waters to monitor activity.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters that the drugs were likely headed to Trinidad or other Caribbean nations. He stressed that the administration would stay “on offense” against cartels and trafficking networks.
Meanwhile, Venezuelan officials have yet to respond to the incident. They maintain that Tren de Aragua was dismantled during a prison raid in 2023 and is no longer active.
The strike on the Venezuela vessel marks the first major military action linked to the recent US deployment in the region.
