US Military Conducts Second Strike on Suspected Venezuelan Drug Trafficking Vessel

WASHINGTON — The United States military executed a second strike on a Venezuelan vessel suspected of drug trafficking in international waters, resulting in the deaths of three individuals, President Donald Trump announced on Monday, September 15. This marks the second such operation targeting alleged drug-smuggling boats in recent weeks.

In a statement posted on Truth Social, Trump said, "On my orders, US Military Forces conducted a SECOND Kinetic Strike against positively identified, extraordinarily violent drug trafficking cartels and narcoterrorists in the SOUTHCOM area of responsibility." He stressed the threat these groups pose to US national security and foreign interests.

The Southern Command (SOUTHCOM), responsible for 31 countries across South and Central America and the Caribbean, is leading these operations. Trump also shared a nearly 30-second video labeled "Unclassified" that appeared to show a vessel exploding and catching fire on the water.

Later, Trump asserted, "We have proof, all you have to do is look at the cargo that was ... spattered all over the ocean, big bags of cocaine and fentanyl." Verification of the video is ongoing; initial AI analysis could not confirm manipulation due to partial blurring.

Venezuelan authorities have yet to issue an official response. The strikes coincide with a significant US military buildup in the southern Caribbean, including the recent deployment of five F-35 stealth fighters to Puerto Rico, alongside at least seven warships and a nuclear-powered submarine.

Speaking to reporters, Trump hinted at the possibility of expanding operations to land-based actions against drug smugglers, saying, "When they come by land, we're going to be stopping them the same way we stopped the boats. But maybe by talking about it a little bit, it won't happen."

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth earlier affirmed the military presence is not for training but an active counter-narcotics front. On social media, Hegseth declared, "We will track them, kill them, and dismantle their networks throughout our hemisphere — at the times and places of our choosing."

The Trump administration has proposed renaming the Department of Defense to the Department of War, which requires congressional approval.

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro condemned the US actions as acts of aggression and stated that official communication between the two countries is virtually halted.

Details regarding the initial strike on September 2 remain limited. US officials allege the boat targeted belonged to the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua and killed 11 individuals. However, questions about the legality of the strike have been raised since the boat was reportedly turning around at the time of the attack.

While the Pentagon has not disclosed specifics about the types or quantities of drugs involved, the unusual approach of destroying ships rather than seizing them has attracted scrutiny.

Maduro insists the people killed were not linked to criminal gangs and accuses the US of seeking to destabilize his government. Last month, the US doubled its reward for information leading to Maduro's arrest to $50 million, citing his alleged involvement in drug trafficking.

The operations reflect an intensified focus on counter-narcotics efforts in the region, amid growing geopolitical tensions between Washington and Caracas.