WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump announced on Tuesday that the United States military carried out a “kinetic strike” against a drug-carrying vessel in the southern Caribbean, killing 11 people he identified as “narco-terrorists” from the Tren de Aragua gang. The strike is a significant escalation of the Trump administration’s efforts to combat the flow of illicit drugs from Latin America.
In a post on his social media platform, Truth Social, Trump shared an unclassified video that appeared to show a fast-moving boat being hit by a blast of light before bursting into flames. “The strike occurred while the terrorists were at sea in International waters transporting illegal narcotics, heading to the United States,” Trump wrote, adding a warning to anyone considering similar actions.
The operation follows an increased U.S. naval presence in international waters near Latin America, part of the administration’s plan to disrupt drug cartels. Trump renewed his accusations that Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro controls the Tren de Aragua gang, a group the U.S. has designated as a foreign terrorist organization. This claim, however, has been contradicted by a declassified U.S. intelligence assessment.
The strike has heightened already strained tensions between Washington and Caracas. Just one day prior, Maduro had warned he would declare a “republic in arms” if U.S. forces staged an attack on Venezuela. Following the strike announcement, Venezuelan state television showed Maduro walking through his neighborhood, stressing that the U.S. is “coming for Venezuela’s riches,” including its vast oil reserves. Venezuelan Communications and Information Minister Freddy Ñáñez also questioned the authenticity of the video, suggesting it may have been created using artificial intelligence.
