Trump says US military kills 3 in second strike on drug-carrying boat from Venezuela

President Donald Trump announced Sept. 15 that the US military carried out a second “kinetic strike” against a suspected drug cartel vessel from Venezuela, killing three crew members.

In a Truth Social post, Trump said the strike hit “confirmed narcoterrorists from Venezuela” who were transporting drugs through international waters toward the US. He called the cartels “A THREAT to U.S. National Security, Foreign Policy, and vital U.S. Interests,” adding that “no U.S. Forces were harmed.” 

The President did not specify the strike’s location, other than that it fell within U.S. Southern Command’s area of responsibility, which covers the Caribbean Sea and South America. Trump also posted a video clip that appeared to show the boat erupting in flames. 

“BE WARNED,” he wrote. “IF YOU ARE TRANSPORTING DRUGS THAT CAN KILL AMERICANS, WE ARE HUNTING YOU!”

The strike follows a Sept. 2 operation in the southern Caribbean that killed 11 crew members on a vessel linked to the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua, CatholicVote reported. At the time, Trump said Venezuela continues to serve as a key trafficking route for narcotics entering the US.