United States – President Donald Trump announced that United States forces conducted a strike in the southern Caribbean targeting a vessel linked to the Tren de Aragua (TDA) gang, which had departed Venezuela while transporting drugs.
“Earlier this morning, on my Orders, U.S. Military Forces conducted a kinetic strike against positively identified Tren de Aragua Narcoterrorists in the SOUTHCOM area of responsibility,” Trump said in a post on Truth Social.
Trump also mentioned that 11 individuals were killed in the strike carried out in international waters, with no reported injuries among U.S. forces.
According to Trump, TDA is classified as a foreign terrorist organization under the control of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, and is responsible for mass killings, drug and sex trafficking, as well as violent and terrorist activities across the United States and the broader Western Hemisphere.
The Trump administration’s move to use military force against Latin American drug cartels signals a sharp escalation that could have serious implications for the region.
“Please let this serve as notice to anybody even thinking about bringing drugs into the United States of America. BEWARE!” Trump added.
In response to this, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said military strikes on suspected drug traffickers will happen again, dismissing concerns about their legality and potential violations of Latin American sovereignty.—Reymon Mentoro, Contributor