US President Donald Trump announced on Monday that the US Navy conducted a second lethal strike on an alleged smuggling boat in international waters of the Caribbean. Three men were killed in the operation, which reportedly involved Venezuelan cartels and was described by the president as part of the anti-drug operations.
Released images showed the boat in flames just seconds after being hit, with the footage alternating between infrared and color cameras.
Trump stated that the occupants of the boat were “positively identified as extremely violent narcoterrorists” and emphasized that anyone transporting drugs to the US would be hunted down. The president also pointed out that after the strike, no more suspicious boats were observed in the region and indicated that future operations could target traffickers on land, including Mexican cartels. No US military personnel were injured during the operation.
The strike occurred amid a military buildup by the US in the Caribbean. Recently, F-35B fighter jets were deployed to Puerto Rico, joining an expanded presence that includes warships, submarines, and thousands of Marines. The move was justified by US authorities as part of anti-drug trafficking operations, but it has raised concerns about legality, proportionality, and the risk of escalation with the Venezuelan government.
The Trump administration also increased the reward for Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro to $50 million, accusing him of supporting drug trafficking. Caracas, for its part, accused the US of using the anti-drug campaign as a pretext for political pressure or regime change.
Analysts warn that the situation is sensitive, with the risk of incidents during naval maneuvers nearby or potential aerial confrontations, while Washington maintains its intention to protect its forces and interrupt the flow of drugs into the country.
Source: New York Post / The Aviationist | Photo: X @DOWResponse | This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team
BREAKING
1/ The U.S. Army’s Typhon Missile System has been deployed to Japan for the first time.
Unveiled at Iwakuni base, Typhon can launch Tomahawk cruise missiles (range ~1,600 km) — enough to strike across the East China Sea and into parts of China.
This marks a major… pic.twitter.com/KQYiEpqsGb
— DOW Rapid Response (@DOWResponse) September 15, 2025
