Bogotá, Colombia – The United States military destroyed a boat allegedly transporting illegal narcotics from Venezuela to the U.S. on Monday, September 15, according to President Donald Trump.
The strike, which the president said killed three men, was carried out in international waters and is the second of its kind in recent weeks.
Monday’s attack follows White House warnings that it will continue to use military force to combat drug trafficking in the Southern Caribbean, actions which some observers have condemned for violating international law.
“This morning, on my Orders, U.S. Military Forces conducted a SECOND Kinetic Strike against positively identified, extraordinarily violent drug trafficking cartels and narcoterrorists in the SOUTHCOM area of responsibility,” wrote Trump in a post on Truth Social following the strike.
The president also shared a video showing a boat exploding and burning in a body of water; the media has not been independently verified.
In recent weeks, the U.S. military has been bolstering its forces in the Southern Caribbean, deploying seven warships, a nuclear-powered submarine and some 4,500 troops to the region.
The White House has said the build-up aims to tackle the illegal flow of drugs from Venezuela to the United States.
Monday’s attack is the second of its kind this month: on September 2, Trump ordered a strike on a drug boat that he claimed was operated by the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua, which the White House designated a terrorist organization in February.
The strike killed 11 people, drawing condemnation for violating international maritime law, which states that lethal force can only be used when under direct threat.
At the time, John Walsh, Director for Drug Policy and the Andes at the Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA), told Latin America Reports the attack was not only illegal but was unlikely to hinder drug trafficking.
“This provides a spectacle that can please Trump’s fans, but the drug trade will carry on,” said the analyst.
The details of the September 2 attack remain murky and it is unclear if the boat was associated with Tren de Aragua.
The strikes are part of a broader pressure campaign against Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, with the White House offering a USD $50 million reward for his arrest over alleged links to narcotics trafficking.
In response to the White House’s naval build-up, Venezuela’s government has mobilized civil defense forces, claiming to have put some 4.5 million militia members on standby to defend the country.
Following Monday’s strike, Maduro denounced Washington’s actions, claiming it was seeking to provoke a confrontation with Venezuela.
“If life puts us in that situation, we will take up arms to defend our sovereignty and fight imperialism,” said the Venezuelan president.
It is unclear if the Trump administration is planning to launch strikes within Venezuelan territory.
Featured image description: A video purporting to show the aftermath of Monday’s strike.
Image credit: @RealDonaldTrump via Truth Social.
