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President Donald Trump has announced that the United States, US, forces conducted a military strike in the southern Caribbean, destroying a drug-laden vessel and killing 11 suspected members of the Venezuelan gang, Tren de Aragua.
Trump disclosed the operation in a post on Truth Social, stating that the attack took place on Tuesday, September 2, in international waters. According to him, the boat was transporting narcotics destined for the US.
The US president, who has intensified both military and political pressure on Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, noted that he was personally briefed by General Dan Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, before the mission.
“A lot of drugs in that boat,” Trump said, adding that the operation was a direct order from him.
On social media, Trump wrote: “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 in this strike. Please let this serve as notice to anybody even thinking about bringing drugs into the United States of America. BEWARE!”
The post included aerial footage of a motorboat speeding across rough waters before bursting into flames. Venezuela’s communications minister, Freddy Ñáñez, however, dismissed the video, claiming without proof that it was artificially generated.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio also confirmed the strike, stating that the targeted vessel had departed Venezuela and was being operated by a designated narco-terrorist group.
While the exact type of drugs onboard has not been disclosed, the US government has long accused Maduro and his allies of involvement in international narcotics trafficking. The Trump administration has previously offered a $50 million reward for information leading to Maduro’s arrest, while also designating several Latin American cartels and gangs as terrorist organisations.
The strike comes amid heightened US military activity in the Caribbean, including the recent deployment of warships and thousands of Marines. Maduro has warned that any American military intervention would be met with armed resistance, describing US presence as the greatest threat the continent has seen in 100 years.
Despite his hardline stance, Trump has allowed some economic leeway, permitting Chevron to continue operating in Venezuela in partnership with state-owned oil giant PDVSA.
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