Overview

• President Donald Trump said U.S. forces hit a drug-running vessel that had departed Venezuela in the southern Caribbean, killing 11 people he described as narcoterrorists linked to Tren de Aragua.
• The White House posted video of a small boat detonating at sea, and a senior Pentagon official described the action as a targeted strike conducted in international waters.
• U.S. officials said seven warships, including three amphibious assault ships, are operating in the Caribbean as part of expanded counter‑drug missions, with another vessel positioned in the Pacific.
• Venezuelan authorities condemned the U.S. presence as a threat, mobilized large militia forces, and deployed navy assets and surveillance drones, while a cabinet minister claimed the released video was AI‑generated.
• Regional responses diverged, with ALBA countries denouncing the U.S. posture and Guyana expressing support after alleging Venezuelan fire on one of its boats, as Washington maintains a $50 million reward for information leading to Nicolás Maduro’s arrest.