Overview

• President Donald Trump announced the operation from the Oval Office and later posted video showing a vessel struck and sunk, saying no U.S. personnel were hurt.
• Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the target was a drug boat that departed Venezuela and was operated by the designated Tren de Aragua organization.
• U.S. accounts place the action in the southern Caribbean within U.S. Southern Command’s area of responsibility and describe it as an at-sea interdiction of narcotics.
• The Pentagon is expected to release additional details as a reinforced U.S. maritime and Marine deployment remains positioned near Venezuela for counternarcotics missions.
• Caracas has denounced the strike, mobilized forces, and sought international backing, while U.S. officials reject invasion claims and emphasize a focus on drug networks.