The U.S. military has carried out a strike against a suspected drug smuggling vessel in international waters off Venezuela, resulting in the deaths of 11 people on board. It marks the first time in recent years that U.S. forces have destroyed a smuggling boat without attempting a law enforcement boarding.
According to U.S. officials, the vessel was identified as being operated by members of Tren de Aragua, a Venezuelan criminal organization designated by Washington as a foreign terrorist group. The suspects were allegedly transporting narcotics through the southern Caribbean, with the shipment believed to be headed toward the Caribbean region and possibly the United States.
President Donald Trump said he personally authorized the operation, describing it as part of an offensive strategy against drug cartels and their networks.
The White House has not confirmed whether any survivors were taken into custody or whether the drugs were recovered after the strike. Traditionally, U.S. interdictions at sea have been conducted by the Coast Guard, with suspects usually detained alive and prosecuted.
