U.S. strikes second alleged Venezuelan drug cartel boat, killing three
U.S. forces destroyed a second boat allegedly linked to Venezuelan drug cartels in international waters, killing three, President Donald Trump said on 15 September. The strike followed a 2 September attack that killed 11 suspected cartel members.
U.S. military forces have carried out a second strike on a suspected Venezuelan drug cartel vessel in international waters, President Donald Trump announced on 15 September.
The operation destroyed the boat and killed three individuals described by Trump as “narcoterrorists.” No American personnel were injured.
Trump stated on his Truth Social account that the group was transporting narcotics intended for the United States. He described the drugs as “a deadly weapon poisoning Americans.”
The 15 September strike follows an earlier attack on 2 September, when U.S. forces destroyed a boat originating from Venezuela in the southern Caribbean. That incident killed 11 alleged members of the Tren de Aragua gang, a Venezuelan criminal organisation.
Both actions have been presented by Trump as part of a campaign against what he terms “violent drug trafficking cartels” operating from Venezuela. He has framed the operations as direct measures to protect Americans from narcotics.
However, the operations have drawn scrutiny from U.S. lawmakers. Following the first attack, members of both the Republican and Democratic parties questioned whether the strikes align with established legal frameworks and broader U.S. counter-narcotics policy.
USA TODAY reported that while the administration has emphasised operational success, the absence of detailed information on targeting criteria and rules of engagement has fuelled debate in Congress.
The U.S. military has not released independent confirmation of the strikes or disclosed further details about the vessels involved.
