Overview

• President Donald Trump said U.S. forces hit a vessel he linked to the Tren de Aragua, sharing a video of the strike and asserting it followed his orders.
• Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed a lethal operation against a drug boat that U.S. officials say departed Venezuela and was run by a designated narco‑terrorist group.
• Washington says the attack occurred in international waters in SOUTHCOM’s area of responsibility, resulted in 11 deaths, and caused no U.S. casualties.
• Venezuela condemned the action, mobilized forces and militias, and warned of a potential shift to a “república en armas” if attacked, accusing Washington of escalation.
• Venezuelan officials claimed the released video was AI‑generated and called it fabricated, as CELAC moved to an emergency meeting and independent verification remained limited.