US military kills 11 narcoterrorists in strike on Venezuelan boat

The United States military has killed 11 "narcoterrorists" in an attack on a vessel from Venezuela that was carrying illegal drugs in the Caribbean, according to President Donald Trump. "Earlier this morning, on my Orders, U.S. Military Forces conducted a kinetic strike against positively identified Tren de Aragua Narcoterrorists in the SOUTHCOM area of responsibility," Mr Trump said in a post on his Truth Social platform. "TDA is a designated Foreign Terrorist Organization, operating under the control of Nicolas Maduro, responsible for mass murder, drug trafficking, sex trafficking, and acts of violence and terror across the United States and Western Hemisphere."The strike occurred while the terrorists were at sea in International waters transporting illegal narcotics, heading to the United States. The strike resulted in 11 terrorists killed in action.

Tren de Aragua originated more than a decade ago at an infamously lawless prison with hardened criminals in Venezuela's central state of Aragua. The gang has expanded in recent years as more than 7.7 million Venezuelans have fled economic turmoil and migrated to other Latin American countries or the US.Trump and administration officials have repeatedly blamed the gang for being at the root of violence and illicit drug dealing that plague some cities. The White House did not immediately explain how the military determined that those aboard the vessel were Tren de Aragua members.

Trump's confirmation of the strike on Tuesday, local time, came a day after Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro said his country was at "maximum preparedness" and ready to respond if attacked by forces that the US government had deployed to the Caribbean. Maduro's government has responded to the bolstering of US forces in the region by deploying troops along Venezuela's coast and border with neighbouring Colombia, as well as by urging Venezuelans to enlist in a civilian militia.

The Venezuelan president described the movement of US forces into the Caribbean as "an extravagant, unjustifiable, immoral and absolutely criminal and bloody threat". He said he would constitutionally declare a "republic in arms" if the US attacked Venezuela. He did not elaborate.