Washington/Mexico City: A U.S. military strike ordered by President Donald Trump has destroyed a Venezuelan vessel in the Caribbean Sea, killing 11 people suspected of drug trafficking. The incident, which took place on Tuesday, was confirmed by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio during a press briefing in Mexico City. According to Rubio, American forces could have intercepted the boat, but Trump instead directed that it be eliminated completely, calling it an unprecedented step in the fight against narcotics smuggling.

Defending the action, Rubio described the operation as a necessary escalation against criminal groups. He said the crew received no warning because the vessel, allegedly carrying large quantities of cocaine and fentanyl, posed “an immediate threat to the United States.” Labeling the decision as a strong message, Rubio remarked, “This President is not a talker; he’s a doer; he’s going to do it,” emphasizing that such strikes could happen again if similar cases arise. The strike was presented by Washington as a “precision operation” designed to dismantle organized trafficking networks in the region.

President Trump justified the order by linking the vessel to the Venezuelan criminal syndicate Tren de Aragua, which the U.S. has designated as a terrorist organization. He claimed that “massive amounts of drugs” were recovered from the wreckage, arguing that decisive actions are essential to protect American communities from the flow of narcotics. While critics have raised concerns about the legality and humanitarian impact of destroying vessels at sea without warning, Trump and his administration maintained that the move signals a zero-tolerance stance against transnational drug gangs.