The president Donald Trump confirmed on Tuesday a lethal attack against a vessel allegedly linked to drug trafficking off the coast of Venezuela, which resulted in six deaths.
The operation was carried out by direct order of the Department of War under his authority as commander in chief, he noted.
“In the early hours of this morning, the Secretary of Defense ordered a lethal kinetic strike against a vessel affiliated with a Designated Terrorist Organization (DTO) operating in the area of responsibility of U.S. Southern Command, just off the coast of Venezuela”, announced Trump on his Truth Social network.
According to the details provided, the vessel was identified through intelligence as part of a drug trafficking network linked to narcoterrorist organizations, and it was traveling along a known route for illegal trafficking.
The attack was carried out in international waters, the U.S. confirmed.
Six male narcoterrorists aboard the vessel died in the attack. No U.S. forces were injured, the president added. Thank you for your attention to this matter!, he concluded.
The United States Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) and the Marine Corps recently confirmed the presence of special units in the region.
Through its official account, SOUTHCOM shared images of the Marines of the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit conducting low visibility operations in the Caribbean Sea, as part of missions led by the Department of Defense and aligned with the priorities of the White House.
You may not see us, but we see you, the military command stated, reaffirming its strategic deployment in the Caribbean.
This attack occurs amid increasing military pressure from the United States on drug trafficking routes in the Western Hemisphere. Washington has strengthened its naval and air presence in the Caribbean and South America, particularly in areas where groups are considered terrorists by U.S. authorities.
Although the Venezuelan government has not officially commented on this incident, the operation underscores the more aggressive stance of the Trump administration during its second term, which it claims is an intervention against organized crime networks.
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