Overview

• President Trump posted footage showing a vessel ablaze after what he said was a U.S. military attack on a drug‑smuggling boat on the high seas in the U.S. Southern Command region.
• He said three people were killed and referred to them as “drug terrorists,” while withholding the precise location of the strike.
• The video marks the third time this month the president has publicized such an operation, following earlier posts on September 2 and 15.
• The administration contends targeted smuggling networks are tied to Nicolás Maduro’s government, but reports say the link of this latest boat to Venezuela is unconfirmed.
• Independent verification of the incident and details about those killed remain unclear, and U.S.–Venezuela tensions are rising as some politicians and rights groups question the legality of these actions.