Donald Trump shared a video online that showed a motorboat racing through rough waters before suddenly catching fire. BBC
President Donald Trump announced that the US military destroyed a drug-carrying vessel in the southern Caribbean on Tuesday. He said the strike killed 11 members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua.
Trump told reporters the vessel carried "a lot of drugs" and was headed toward the United States. He said US forces "shot out" the boat while it moved through international waters.
Trump’s Statement
Trump later posted on his Truth Social platform about the strike.
"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," he wrote.
He added: "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!"
His post included grainy aerial footage of a motorboat racing through rough waters before erupting into flames.
Political Tensions Rise
The Trump administration has increased pressure on Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. Officials recently offered a $50 million reward for information leading to his arrest on drug charges.
Maduro vowed to resist any US attempt at military intervention. He called the US naval deployments the “greatest threat seen on our continent in the last 100 years.”
On Monday, he warned that Venezuela would “declare a republic in arms” if attacked.
International Reactions
Venezuela’s Communications Minister Freddy Nanez questioned the video Trump shared. He claimed, without evidence, that it may have been created using artificial intelligence.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio also commented. Posting on X, he said: "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."
Background on the Conflict
The Trump administration has labeled several Latin American criminal groups as terrorist organisations. Among them are Tren de Aragua and the Cartel of the Suns, which US officials allege involves Maduro and senior members of Venezuela’s government.
Since January, the US has boosted its presence in the southern Caribbean. More naval vessels and thousands of Marines have been deployed in recent months.
Trump stressed the US will continue targeting criminal networks. “There’s more where that came from,” he said after the strike.
Drugs on Board Still Unknown
It remains unclear what drugs the vessel carried. Authorities have not provided further details.
For now, the strike has increased tensions between Washington and Caracas, with both sides trading accusations and warnings.
