WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump announced Tuesday that U.S. forces carried out a strike on a vessel from Venezuela, killing 11 alleged members of the gang Tren de Aragua in the southern Caribbean.
Trump Confirms “Kinetic Strike”
Speaking at the White House, Trump told reporters that the U.S. military had “shot out a drug-carrying boat” that was transporting narcotics toward the United States.
“A lot of drugs in that boat,” Trump said. “And there’s more where that came from. We have a lot of drugs pouring into our country … These came out of Venezuela.”
Later, Trump posted a video on his Truth Social platform that showed drone footage of a speedboat exploding and burning at sea. He described the strike as a warning to others.
“The strike resulted in 11 terrorists killed in action. No U.S. forces were harmed in this strike,” Trump wrote. “Please let this serve as notice to anybody even thinking about bringing drugs into the United States of America. BEWARE!”
Accusations Against Tren de Aragua
According to Trump, the boat carried members of Tren de Aragua, a Venezuelan gang the U.S. designated as a terrorist group earlier this year. He alleged the group operates under the control of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, an accusation Caracas strongly denies.
Venezuelan Communications Minister Freddy Ñáñez responded on social media, claiming the video Trump shared may have been created with artificial intelligence. Reuters reported that its initial review of the video found no evidence of manipulation, though verification was still ongoing.
Rising U.S.–Venezuela Tensions
The strike is the first reported military action since Trump authorized the deployment of warships to the Caribbean last month. Officially, the buildup is part of U.S. counter-narcotics operations, but critics say it is also aimed at pressuring Maduro’s government.
In recent months, the Trump administration has escalated both rhetoric and policy against Caracas. Washington offered a $50 million reward for Maduro’s capture in August, and Trump signed a directive in July authorizing military force against Latin American cartels labeled as terrorist groups.
Maduro has accused the U.S. of preparing for regime change. Earlier this week, he warned that Washington hardliners were pushing Trump toward “a terrible war” that could destabilize the region.
International Reactions
U.S. officials hailed the strike as a victory in the fight against narcotics. Secretary of State Marco Rubio wrote on X that the attack targeted “a drug vessel which had departed from Venezuela and was being operated by a designated narco-terrorist organization.”
The incident, however, has fueled concerns that U.S. actions in the Caribbean could spark a direct military clash with Venezuelan forces.
