President Donald Trump announced on September 2, 2025, that the U.S. military conducted a lethal strike in the southern Caribbean, targeting a vessel operated by Venezuela’s notorious Tren de Aragua gang. The operation, which took place in international waters, resulted in the deaths of 11 individuals identified as gang members transporting illegal narcotics toward the United States, according to a statement Trump posted on Truth Social.
“No U.S. forces were harmed in this strike,” Trump declared, emphasizing the operation’s success. “Let this serve as a warning to anyone even thinking about bringing drugs into the United States of America.” The president also shared a brief video clip showing a small speedboat erupting in flames, underscoring the precision and force of the attack, which was reportedly carried out with drone support.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio, speaking before departing for diplomatic talks in Mexico and Ecuador, confirmed the strike targeted a “designated narco-terrorist organization.” Rubio, who described the action as a “lethal strike,” deferred specific details to the Pentagon, which has yet to release further information about the operation, including the types or quantities of drugs involved. He noted the vessel was likely headed toward Trinidad or other Caribbean nations, a common transit route for narcotics destined for the U.S.
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The strike comes amid a significant U.S. military buildup in the Caribbean, with over 4,000 Marines and sailors deployed alongside warships, including the USS Lake Erie, to counter Latin American drug cartels. The Trump administration has labeled Tren de Aragua and other groups, such as Venezuela’s Cartel of the Suns, as foreign terrorist organizations, accusing them of fueling violence and drug trafficking across the Western Hemisphere. Trump has repeatedly claimed, without evidence, that Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro directly controls these groups, a charge contradicted by a declassified U.S. intelligence assessment.
Maduro, facing a $50 million U.S. bounty for alleged drug trafficking, has denounced the operation as part of a broader American plot to destabilize his government. On Monday, he warned that any U.S. attack would prompt him to “constitutionally declare a republic in arms,” mobilizing 4.5 million militia members.
Venezuelan officials have cited a U.N. report indicating that only 5% of Colombia’s cocaine production transits through Venezuela, challenging the White House’s portrayal of the country as a major drug hub. The report highlights larger cocaine seizures in Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru, with Ecuador facing significant violence linked to Mexican and Balkan cartels.
The operation has heightened tensions between Washington and Caracas, with Venezuela deploying troops along its coast and border with Colombia in response. Regional leaders, including Mexico’s Claudia Sheinbaum and Colombia’s Gustavo Petro, have expressed concerns about escalating U.S. military presence. As the U.S. continues its aggressive anti-cartel campaign, the international community watches closely for potential further actions in the region.
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