U.S. military strikes alleged drug-carrying Venezuelan vessel, killing 11 people on board
發佈日期: 2025-09-03 20:23
TVB News
U.S. President Donald Trump said the U.S. military has killed 11 people in a strike on a vessel from Venezuela.
The boat was allegedly carrying illegal narcotics heading to the United States by members of the Tren de Aragua gang.
Trump said the strike occurred while the vessel was in international waters.
It is the first known operation since the recent deployment of U.S. warships to the southern Caribbean.
Tracey Furniss reports.
A video on Trump's Truth Social account shows the U.S. military strike. The vessel allegedly carrying narcotics is speeding through international waters after leaving Venezuela when the strike hits.
U.S. President Donald Trump said: "You'll see that we just, over the last few minutes, literally shot out a boat, a drug-carrying boat, a lot of drugs in that boat. We have a lot of drugs pouring into our country, coming in for a long time. And we just, these came out of Venezuela, and coming out very heavily from Venezuela. A lot of things are coming out of Venezuela."
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has insisted the U.S. is building a false drug-trafficking narrative to try to force him out of office.
Earlier, Maduro mobilised troops along the country's coast and border with neighbouring Colombia after Washington prepared to expand its maritime presence in the region, deploying warships and thousands of marines to target drug cartels.
He also encouraged his citizens to enlist in a civilian militia.
On his third trip to Latin America Tuesday, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio's hot-button issues for discussion will include cartels and drugs.
In talks with leaders in Mexico and Ecuador Wednesday and Thursday, Rubio will make the case that broader, deeper cooperation with the U.S. on those issues is vitally important to improving health, safety and security in the Americas and the Caribbean.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said."The president's been very clear that he's going to use the full power of America and the full might of the United States to take on and eradicate these drug cartels, no matter where they're operating from and no matter how long they've been able to act with impunity. Those days are over."
