Trump Says 11 Killed In Strike On Alleged Drug Boat From Venezuela
The U.S. military has conducted a "kinetic strike" on a vessel from Venezuela in the southern Caribbean, which President Donald Trump says killed 11 people. The strike, which is the first known military operation of its kind since the recent deployment of U.S. warships to the region, was aimed at a boat allegedly carrying illegal narcotics. Trump shared a black and white video of the strike on his social media platform, Truth Social, which appeared to show a speedboat exploding and catching fire. He claimed the individuals on board were "narcoterrorists" from the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua, which the U.S. designated a terrorist organization in February.
Venezuelan Communications Minister Freddy Nanez has suggested the video shared by Trump was created using artificial intelligence, though initial checks of the video by Reuters did not show evidence of the video being manipulated. The Pentagon has not yet provided specific details about the attack, such as the type or quantity of drugs on board. The decision to destroy the vessel rather than seize it has been called "highly unusual" by some experts. The operation is part of a larger crackdown on drug cartels, with seven U.S. warships and a submarine deployed to the southern Caribbean, a presence that exceeds usual deployments.
The incident marks a significant escalation of pressure on Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, whom the Trump administration accuses of controlling the Tren de Aragua gang. Maduro has repeatedly denied these allegations and has responded to the U.S. military buildup by deploying troops to Venezuela's coast. He has also warned that he would “declare a republic in arms” if the country were attacked. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the strike was "a lethal strike... against a drug vessel which had departed from Venezuela and was being operated by a designated narco-terrorist organisation.”
