Posted: Wednesday, September 3, 2025. 8:44 am CST.
By Zoila Palma: In a dramatic escalation of U.S. counter-narcotics operations, the U.S. military killed 11 suspected members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua during a strike on a drug-laden vessel in international waters of the southern Caribbean Sea on September 2.
The operation, ordered by President Donald Trump, was announced during a press conference and later detailed in a post on his Truth Social platform, USA Today reported.
Trump claimed the alleged narcoterrorists were en route to the U.S. with illegal narcotics and labeled the strike a key victory in his administration’s campaign against transnational drug cartels.
The White House later released an unclassified, black-and-white video showing the targeted boat engulfed in flames after being struck.
A significant U.S. naval presence remains in the area, including four destroyers and over 4,500 personnel.
Meanwhile, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro accused the U.S. of using the naval buildup as a threat of regime change and warned that his military is prepared to defend against any aggression.
Trump directly linked Maduro to Tren de Aragua in his statement and reiterated the $50 million bounty the U.S. has placed on the Venezuelan leader.
The strike has ignited debate both in Washington and internationally.
Former DEA official Derek Maltz praised the unprecedented use of military force, calling it a long-overdue response to cartel activity in the Western Hemisphere.
However, critics including Kenneth Roth, a Princeton professor and former head of Human Rights Watch, condemned the strike as an illegal execution, arguing that drug trafficking should be treated as a criminal offense, not an act of war.
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The post International News: U.S. Military strike on Venezuelan drug vessel kills 11 suspected cartel members appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
Posted: Wednesday, September 3, 2025. 8:44 am CST. By Zoila Palma: In a dramatic escalation of U.S. counter-narcotics operations, the U.S. military killed 11 suspected members
The post International News: U.S. Military strike on Venezuelan drug vessel kills 11 suspected cartel members appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.