US strike kills 11 narcoterrorists from Venezuelan gang, says Trump

Wednesday 03 September 2025 - 08:15

By: Sahili Aya

US strike kills 11 narcoterrorists from Venezuelan gang, says Trump

The United States military carried out a strike on a boat that had departed from Venezuela, killing eleven alleged “narcoterrorists,” former President Donald Trump announced on Tuesday. The incident comes amid heightened tensions between Washington and Caracas over drug trafficking and military presence in the Caribbean.

According to Trump, U.S. forces targeted members of the Venezuelan criminal group Tren de Aragua in international waters. “On my orders, American military forces launched a kinetic strike against clearly identified narcoterrorists,” Trump wrote on his social platform Truth Social, sharing a video of a small vessel destroyed in a powerful explosion.

Washington recently deployed seven warships to the Caribbean, officially as part of a campaign to disrupt drug trafficking networks. Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed that the operation took place “in the southern Caribbean” and targeted a ship believed to be transporting narcotics to the United States.

Caracas, however, has condemned the deployment, describing it as a threat to Venezuela’s sovereignty. President Nicolás Maduro accused Washington of attempting to orchestrate regime change, while Venezuelan officials dismissed the U.S. video as “fabricated with artificial intelligence.”

Regional reactions have been divided. Nicaragua’s President Daniel Ortega claimed the U.S. naval presence is designed to “intimidate nations and overthrow governments.” Meanwhile, Rubio insisted the Trump administration is determined to use “all of America’s power” to dismantle drug cartels.

The Venezuelan government has warned it is ready for “armed resistance” if U.S. actions escalate, although Washington has not formally threatened an invasion.