Overview

• President Trump said U.S. forces destroyed a boat operated by Tren de Aragua in international waters, reporting 11 dead and no U.S. casualties.
• Hegseth warned that operations will target others the U.S. designates as narco‑terrorists, indicating further strikes could follow.
• U.S. naval presence has expanded in the southern Caribbean, with a unit of more than 4,000 sailors and marines due to arrive this week, according to a Defense Department representative.
• Caracas denounced the deployments as the region’s greatest threat in a century, announced militia mobilization, and threatened a “republic under arms,” though experts question the claimed force size.
• Information disputes persist, as Venezuelan officials challenge the authenticity of the posted strike video and U.S. statements differ on whether the shipment was headed to the United States or elsewhere in the Caribbean.