President Donald Trump on Tuesday released dramatic video showing a U.S. military strike that destroyed a small boat carrying narcotics and alleged members of the Tren de Aragua gang off the coast of Venezuela.
Strike Footage Released
The video, shared by Trump on Truth Social, captured a missile strike that obliterated the vessel, which erupted into flames in international waters. Trump said 11 narco-terrorists were killed in the operation.
“No U.S. Forces were harmed in this strike,” Trump wrote. “Please let this serve as notice to anybody even thinking about bringing drugs into the United States of America. BEWARE!”
Target: Tren de Aragua
Trump identified those onboard as members of Tren de Aragua (TDA), a Venezuelan criminal organization designated as a Foreign Terrorist Organization earlier this year.
“TDA is a designated Foreign Terrorist Organization, operating under the control of Nicolas Maduro, responsible for mass murder, drug trafficking, sex trafficking, and acts of violence and terror across the United States and Western Hemisphere,” Trump said.
While the region is a major cocaine export hub, U.S. officials have not yet specified the type of drugs carried by the destroyed vessel.
Escalating U.S.-Venezuela Tensions
The strike marks the first known attack on a cartel vessel since Trump authorized direct military action against transnational drug traffickers earlier this year.
In late August, Trump deployed three guided-missile destroyers and 4,000 Marines to waters near Venezuela. The buildup prompted Venezuelan strongman Nicolas Maduro to mobilize millions of militia members and warn of an “imminent invasion.”
Maduro, in power since 2013, has been branded by the U.S. government as a drug cartel leader and is considered a fugitive from justice. Washington recently offered a $50 million reward for information leading to his arrest.
Maduro’s Response
On Monday, Maduro accused the U.S. of attempting a regime change through intimidation.
“They are seeking a regime change through military threat,” Maduro said, warning that Venezuela faced “the biggest threat… in the last 100 years.” He claimed the country was “super prepared” to resist U.S. pressure.
White House Signals More to Come
“Maduro’s reign of terror is ending,” a source close to the Trump administration told The Post after the strike. “And President Trump’s historic mission to secure the Western Hemisphere is just getting started.”
