The president of the United States, Donald Trump, confirmed on Friday that the United States attacked a "drug-laden" submarine in Caribbean waters, a vessel that, he said, was specially built to transport large amounts of narcotics.
“We attacked a submarine, a submarine loaded with drugs, specifically built to transport large quantities of drugs,” the leader declared at the White House when asked by reporters about the recent operations of the U.S. naval deployment in the region.
"To put it simply, this was not an innocent group. I don't know many people who own submarines, and that was an attack on a submarine loaded with drugs," he added.
Local media sources reported that the operation took place Thursday night near the Venezuelan coast, under the coordination of the United States Southern Command.
Two crew members are reported to have survived the attack and are currently in the custody of U.S. authorities, according to a report from the EFE agency.
The announcement comes as Washington intensifies its anti-narcotics operations in the Caribbean and the eastern Pacific.
Also this Thursday, the U.S. Southern Command carried out the sixth known operation against a vessel suspected of drug trafficking in the Caribbean Sea, near the coasts of Venezuela.
The attack turned out to be the first in which the existence of survivors was confirmed. Since the beginning of this military offensive, at least 27 people have died in five previous attacks in waters near Venezuela.
Although U.S. authorities have not specified the number of occupants, injured individuals, or survivors, the information was confirmed by officials to media outlets such as CBS News and agencies like Reuters and EFE.
The Pentagon did not provide immediate comments on the operation.
Since August, Southern Command has deployed ships and aircraft with the aim of curbing drug trafficking, an action that has generated increasing tension with Nicolás Maduro's government, which views these movements as a prelude to military intervention.
Trump, who recently
The operation marks a new chapter in the United States' military strategy in the Caribbean and adds an element of uncertainty to the already strained relations with Caracas.
Frequently Asked Questions about the U.S. Attack on a Submarine Loaded with Drugs in the Caribbean
What happened to the drug-laden submarine attacked by the U.S. in the Caribbean?
The president of the United States, Donald Trump, confirmed that U.S. forces attacked a submarine in the Caribbean loaded with drugs. The submarine was specifically built to transport large quantities of narcotics. The operation was part of an intensified naval deployment in the region to combat drug trafficking.
Where did the attack on the submarine occur?
The attack took place near the Venezuelan coasts, according to local sources. The operation was coordinated by the U.S. Southern Command, which has been active in the region to curb drug trafficking.
Were there any survivors after the attack on the submarine?
Press sources reported that two crew members survived the attack and are in the custody of U.S. authorities. This was the first attack in which survivors were reported since operations began in the Caribbean.
How has Venezuela reacted to the attack on the submarine?
The operation has generated tensions with the government of Nicolás Maduro, who accuses the United States of preparing a military intervention. Maduro considers these actions a direct threat to his regime and has responded with defensive measures and confrontational rhetoric.
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