The U.S. military carried out a deadly strike on a vessel off the coast of Venezuela on Tuesday, killing 11 people and escalating its fight against drug trafficking in the Caribbean. President Donald Trump confirmed the operation, saying the boat was carrying a large shipment of drugs and was linked to the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua, which the U.S. has designated a terrorist group.
“This was a drug-carrying boat, and a lot of drugs were on board,” Trump said, sharing drone footage that appeared to show the boat exploding and catching fire at sea. The Pentagon has yet to release detailed information about the mission, including the type or amount of drugs involved.
The strike is part of a wider U.S. military buildup in the region. In recent weeks, the U.S. deployed thousands of troops, warships, and surveillance aircraft to the southern Caribbean, aiming to disrupt the flow of narcotics into the United States. This buildup has been met with sharp criticism from Venezuela’s government.
Venezuelan officials have denied the U.S. accusations and questioned the authenticity of the drone footage, suggesting it might have been artificially created. Reuters found no evidence that the video was manipulated but continues to investigate.
President Nicolás Maduro condemned the U.S. military presence in the Caribbean, calling it the greatest threat South America has seen in a century. The Venezuelan government declared itself ready to defend the country against what it called an “unjustifiable and criminal” threat.
Human rights advocates and experts have raised concerns about the use of lethal force in the strike, questioning whether such actions are lawful or proportional when targeting suspected drug traffickers.
The U.S. has also increased pressure on Maduro by doubling its reward for information leading to his arrest to $50 million. The ongoing military and political tensions signal a sharp escalation in the U.S. approach to combating drugs and organized crime in the region.
As of now, the Pentagon has not provided further details, and investigations into the strike and the video footage are ongoing.
