U.S. forces eliminate 11 individuals, believed to be involved in narcotics trafficking, in an attack on a suspected drug ship off the coast: Trump
U.S. Amphibious Ready Group Conducts Precision Strike on Suspected Drug Vessel in Caribbean
The Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group, along with the embarked 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit, is currently operating near Puerto Rico. The group, which includes the USS Iwo Jima (LHD-7), USS Fort Lauderdale (LPD-28), and USS San Antonio (LPD-17), carried out a precision strike on a suspected drug vessel in the southern Caribbean.
According to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the vessel had departed from Venezuela. The operation was announced by President Donald Trump and confirmed by the Pentagon. It was described as a significant operation against a "designated narco-terrorist organisation," the Venezuela-based Tren de Aragua criminal network.
The strike, which occurred while the vessel was at sea in international waters, resulted in the death of 11 people. The U.S. military attacked the Tren de Aragua, a group classified by the U.S. government as a foreign terrorist organization.
The strike sets a precedent for how future operations in the Caribbean may unfold. The U.S. Navy and Marine Corps have expanded their presence in the region amidst rising tensions with Caracas and growing concerns about Venezuela's alleged ties to criminal groups. Around 5,000 sailors and Marines are currently deployed in the region under a White House-directed mission.
Some of these vessels are carrying Coast Guard law enforcement detachments. Over the weekend, Marines trained alongside Puerto Rico's National Guard, including jungle exercises and disaster response drills.
Two guided-missile destroyers - USS Jason Dunham (DDG-109) and USS Gravely (DDG-107) - and cruiser USS Lake Erie (CG-70) are also in Caribbean waters. USS Sampson (DDG-102) has been sighted near the Panama Canal.
President Trump has sharpened his rhetoric against Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, accusing his government of shielding criminal networks. The operation marks a departure from traditional U.S. approaches to counter-narcotics missions in the region, reflecting the administration's strategy of projecting strength in the region, combining counter-narcotics operations with deterrence against hostile actors.
