President Donald Trump says the US has carried out a strike against a drug-carrying vessel in the southern Caribbean, killing 11 'Narcoterrorists'.
He posted on social media that Tuesday's US military operation had targeted members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua.
Trump stated the vessel was in international waters and was transporting illegal narcotics bound for the US.
Recently, the Trump administration has intensified military and political pressure against Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, including offering a $50 million reward for information leading to his arrest on drug-trafficking charges. Maduro has vowed to fight any US military intervention attempts.
Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, Trump noted that US forces had 'shot out' a 'drug-carrying boat' near Venezuela.
During a post on Truth Social, he remarked: '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 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!'
The video Trump shared showed the boat speeding through waters before bursting into flames.
Venezuela's Communications Minister, Freddy Nanez, implied the video could have been generated by artificial intelligence, without providing evidence.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed that the US military conducted a lethal strike against the vessel operated by a designated narcoterrorist organization.
It remains unclear what drugs were believed to be on board.
The Trump administration has consistently designated several drug trafficking organizations as terrorist entities, notably Tren de Aragua.
The US has bolstered its military presence in the Caribbean, deploying additional naval forces and thousands of Marines. Trump underscored the administration's readiness to use military force to curb drug trafficking into the US.
Venezuela's government reacted defiantly, with Maduro threatening to 'declare a republic in arms' against potential US attacks, calling the American military presence a monumental threat to the continent.
