WASHINGTON – The U.S. military today conducted a “lethal strike” against a drug-carrying vessel in the southern Caribbean that had departed from Venezuela, according to an announcement from President Donald Trump and confirmation from Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
The incident, which took place amid rising tensions between Washington and Caracas, was first disclosed by President Trump during an unrelated event in the Oval Office. He stated that the military had “literally shot out a boat” that was carrying a “lot of drugs.”
Shortly after the President’s remarks, Secretary of State Marco Rubio posted on X, confirming the operation and adding that the vessel was operated by a “designated narco-terrorist organization.”
The strike follows a recent U.S. decision to boost its maritime presence in the waters off Venezuela to combat Latin American drug cartels. In response, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro’s government has deployed troops along the coast and urged citizens to enlist in a civilian militia, accusing the U.S. of using a false drug-trafficking narrative as a pretext for regime change.
Details on the strike, including the specific type of vessel targeted and how the operation was carried out, remain sparse. The Pentagon has not yet provided an official statement, and the Venezuelan government has not responded publicly to the announcement.