US President Donald Trump has announced that American forces carried out a military strike on a boat allegedly smuggling drugs from Venezuela, leaving 11 people dead. The strike is the first known US attack on suspected drug traffickers since Trump ordered a naval buildup in the Caribbean last month.
Trump revealed the operation during an Oval Office briefing, saying the boat was “loaded with drugs” and tied to Venezuela. He later shared aerial footage of the strike on Truth Social, warning that anyone attempting to bring drugs into the United States should “beware.” Vice President JD Vance and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth were present as Trump told reporters, “We literally shot out a boat … these came out of Venezuela.”
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US Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed the strike took place in the southern Caribbean but gave no further details. According to reports, the US has deployed seven warships and a nuclear-powered submarine in the region, with more than 4,500 sailors and Marines on board. The military buildup has already raised tensions with Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, who has warned that he would declare a “republic in arms” if his country came under attack.
Trump has linked the destroyed boat to Tren de Aragua, a powerful Venezuelan gang that Washington labels a terrorist group. However, a recent US intelligence report suggested Maduro’s government does not directly coordinate with the gang, though Venezuela provides a “permissive environment” for its operations.
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The Venezuelan government has urged the United Nations to intervene against what it calls US aggression. Maduro accuses Washington of trying to force regime change through military threats. So far, Caracas has not issued an official response to the strike.
The attack highlights growing risks of escalation in the region as the US combines its anti-drug operations with military action, a strategy that could reshape its relations with Latin America.
