President Donald Trump shared a new video to Truth Social on Friday of a “lethal kinetic strike” on a boat connected to a “Designated Terrorist Organization” in the U.S. Southern Command region of responsibility, he said.
Newsweek reached out to the Pentagon via email for additional information.
Why It Matters
Trump’s announcement of the fatal U.S. military strike against a vessel suspected of drug trafficking marks another significant escalation in the use of American military force in counternarcotics operations within the Western Hemisphere.
The strike—resulting in three deaths—was accompanied by the release of a video on Trump’s social media account.
What To Know
In the post, Trump said the strike in international waters resulted in three fatalities.
“Intelligence confirmed the vessel was trafficking illicit narcotics, and was transiting along a known narcotrafficking passage enroute to poison Americans,” he said in part, adding that no U.S. forces were injured.
“STOP SELLING FENTANYL, NARCOTICS, AND ILLEGAL DRUGS IN AMERICA, AND COMMITTING VIOLENCE AND TERRORISM AGAINST AMERICANS!!!” his post concluded.
On Monday, Trump announced via his Truth Social platform that U.S. military forces had conducted a “SECOND Kinetic Strike against positively identified, extraordinarily violent drug trafficking cartels and narcoterrorists in the SOUTHCOM area of responsibility.” He said that three people aboard the vessel were also killed, and that no U.S. personnel were harmed.
What People Are Saying
Democratic Senator Chris Murphy of Connecticut on X this month: “News just broke that the Venezuelan boat that Trump struck was not, in fact, headed to the U.S. with drugs. But this story is disturbing for other reasons, and you need to know why. It’s another sign of Trump’s growing lawlessness. And it’s bad counter-narcotics strategy.”
Joaquin Castro, a Texas Democratic congressman, on X this month: “The Trump admin carried out a 2nd deadly strike against a Venezuelan boat, killing three people. They claimed those onboard were drug traffickers. Instead of providing evidence, they are asking the world to take their word for it. Ignoring the rule of law and refusing to provide evidence or due process makes this an execution. That’s not the American way.”
What Happens Next
The Pentagon has yet to release an official statement detailing evidence behind the targeting and destruction of the vessel.
Trump’s administration, meanwhile, continues to assert the right to use military force against cartels designated as terrorist groups under executive authority.
Update 9/19/25, 9:45 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information.
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