Trump Says U.S. Conducted Three Caribbean Boat Strikes as Venezuela Launches Island War Games

Overview

• Trump told reporters the U.S. Navy carried out three attacks on suspected drug‑running boats, bringing reported deaths to 14, but gave no details on the third strike.
• Washington says the targets were Venezuelan-linked traffickers bound for the U.S., yet publicly released evidence remains limited despite a video of the second blast.
• The U.S. has surged forces into the southern Caribbean, including multiple warships, an amphibious element, F‑35 jets repositioned to Puerto Rico, thousands of troops and surveillance aircraft.
• Venezuela has mobilized reservists and militia, sent troops to border states, and begun large-scale exercises on La Orchila featuring air defenses, drones and electronic warfare activities.
• UN human-rights experts warned the killings may violate international law, and Colombia’s military chief said his country will fight drug trafficking with or without U.S. help after Washington revoked Bogotá’s counternarcotics certification.