President Donald Trump said U.S. military forces carried out a second strike against Venezuelan drug traffickers in international waters, killing three people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In a post on Monday on Truth Social, Trump said the strike targeted \u201cpositively identified, extraordinarily violent drug trafficking cartels and narcoterrorists\u201d operating in international waters. He said the group was transporting narcotics bound for the United States when it was hit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThis morning, on my Orders, U.S. Military Forces conducted a SECOND Kinetic Strike,\u201d Trump wrote. He added that three men were killed and no U.S. forces were harmed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBE WARNED \u2014 IF YOU ARE TRANSPORTING DRUGS THAT CAN KILL AMERICANS, WE ARE HUNTING YOU!,\u201d Trump said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Trump also shared video footage showing the strike on the vessel, which appeared to explode and catch fire after being hit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Earlier this month, Trump said a similar strike<\/a> killed 11 members of Venezuela\u2019s Tren de Aragua off the country\u2019s coast. He described the operation as a warning to drug cartels and vowed that such groups \u201cwon\u2019t be doing it again.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said at the time that Trump is prepared to take steps \u201cin ways that others have not seen.\u201d Secretary of State Marco Rubio, visiting Mexico, also warned that cartels are \u201cin for a rude awakening.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The U.S. government recently designated Tren de Aragua as a foreign terrorist organization, accusing it of mass murder, drug trafficking, and sex trafficking under the control of Venezuelan leader Nicol\u00e1s Maduro.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On Monday, Maduro said relations between Venezuela and the United States were \u201cbroken\u201d amid escalating tensions following the U.S. naval buildup in the region, according to CNN<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Speaking in Caracas, Maduro accused Washington of threats of \u201cbombs, death and blackmail\u201d and announced that Venezuela has mobilized 2.5 million personnel, including military and militia forces. He added that Venezuelans \u201cwill not be subdued,\u201d saying: \u201cIf life leads us to take up arms, the people will do so with serenity and joy. We are fighting for peace.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n BREAKING: U.S. military strikes another boat near Venezuela, killing 3 alleged drug traffickers pic.twitter.com\/r5Cfrx7Rq3<\/a><\/p>— BNO News (@BNONews) September 15, 2025<\/a><\/blockquote>