The United States has carried out a lethal strike on a Venezuelan vessel in the southern Caribbean, killing 11 alleged members of the Tren de Aragua gang. President Donald Trump hailed the operation as a warning to drug traffickers, while Venezuela’s government denounced it as imperialist aggression. The move sharpens an already volatile standoff between Washington and Caracas, where U.S. warships, sanctions, and threats of arrest hang over Nicolás Maduro’s rule.

Strike and Footage

Trump said the vessel was intercepted in international waters while transporting narcotics bound for the U.S. On Truth Social, he posted a grainy aerial video showing a speedboat erupting in flames, declaring: “Please let this serve as notice to anybody even thinking about bringing drugs into the United States.” Venezuelan officials questioned the authenticity of the footage, suggesting it may have been artificially generated.

Maduro’s Defiant Response

In Caracas, President Maduro accused the U.S. of “coming for Venezuela’s riches” and vowed to defend national sovereignty. He warned earlier that he would “constitutionally declare a republic in arms” if American forces attacked. Speaking to supporters, Maduro said White House hardliners were pushing Trump into “a terrible war” that could spill South American and Caribbean blood.

Escalating U.S. Pressure

The strike follows the largest U.S. naval deployment near Venezuela in years. Seven warships and a nuclear submarine carrying over 4,500 Marines and sailors have been stationed in the Caribbean. Washington has accused Maduro of leading the Cartel de los Soles, a claim he denies. Last month, the U.S. doubled its bounty on Maduro to $50m—equal to the amount once offered for Osama bin Laden.