U.S. Strike Destroys Venezuelan Drug Boat, 11 Killed

The U.S. military killed 11 people on Tuesday in a strike on a vessel from Venezuela allegedly carrying narcotics, President Donald Trump announced. He said the crew were identified as members of the Tren de Aragua gang, which Washington recently designated a terrorist group, and accused Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro of backing the group. Trump later shared drone footage of the incident on Truth Social, though Caracas dismissed the video as artificial intelligence-generated.

The strike, carried out in the southern Caribbean, marks the first known operation since the recent deployment of seven U.S. warships and a nuclear-powered submarine to the region as part of Trump’s pledge to crack down on drug cartels. Secretary of State Marco Rubio suggested the drugs were likely bound for Trinidad or another Caribbean nation. The Pentagon has not disclosed details about the type or amount of drugs on board or the specifics of how the vessel was destroyed.

The decision to destroy a suspected drug vessel rather than seize it has drawn criticism. “Being suspected of carrying drugs doesn’t carry a death sentence,” said Adam Isacson of the Washington Office on Latin America. Venezuelan officials maintain that Tren de Aragua is no longer active after a 2023 prison raid, while Caracas warns Trump’s accusations could signal a broader offensive against Maduro’s government.

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