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Trump announces US military strike on Venezuelan vessel

Iran Press TV

Monday, 15 September 2025 10:30 PM

President Donald Trump has announced that US military forces conducted a strike on a Venezuelan vessel en route to the United States, alleging it belonged to a drug cartel.

The operation, which Trump said took place on Monday in international waters, resulted in the deaths of three men.

In a Truth Social post, Trump stated, "This morning, on my orders, U.S. Military Forces conducted a second kinetic strike against violent drug trafficking cartels and narcoterrorists in the SOUTHCOM area of responsibility. These cartels pose a threat to U.S. national security, foreign policy, and vital interests."

The post included a 30-second video showing a vessel exploding and catching fire.

This marks the second US strike on a suspected drug trafficking boat in recent weeks. The first incident involved the boarding of a Venezuelan fishing vessel after a fatal strike on another boat allegedly transporting illegal drugs.

Venezuela's government denied that the 11 Venezuelans killed in the earlier strike were involved in drug trafficking, accusing the US of orchestrating a "regime change" to oust President Nicolás Maduro.

Earlier on Monday, Maduro said that recent incidents between his country and the United States are an "aggression" by the US, not tensions between the two countries.

"This isn't tension. It is an aggression all down the line, it's a judicial aggression when they criminalize us, a political aggression with their daily threatening statements, a diplomatic aggression and an ongoing aggression of military character," Maduro said.

The strike coincides with a significant US military buildup in the southern Caribbean.

On Saturday, five US F-35 stealth fighters landed in Puerto Rico, part of a deployment of 10 aircraft ordered by the Trump administration.

US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth made an unannounced visit to Puerto Rico earlier this week, fueling speculation of imminent military action against Venezuela.

A Pentagon spokesperson declined to confirm any changes in force posture, stating, "We have no announcements at this time."

Tensions have escalated further following the US decision last month to double its reward for information leading to Maduro's capture, from $25 million to $50 million.

In response, Maduro vowed to defend Venezuela's territorial waters, declaring, "We're ready for an armed fight, if necessary."

On Thursday, he announced the deployment of troops, police, and civilian militias to 284 "battlefront" locations, bolstering military presence along the Colombian border.