US military strikes alleged Venezuelan drug vessel

WASHINGTON (AP):

President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that the US has carried out a strike in the southern Caribbean against a drug-carrying vessel that departed from Venezuela.

The president offered scant details on the operation.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on X that the vessel was being operated by a “designated narco-terrorist organisation”. He described the operation as a lethal strike.

The US had recently announced plans to boost its maritime force in the waters off Venezuela to combat threats from Latin American drug cartels.

The US has not signalled any planned land incursion by the thousands of personnel being deployed. Still, President Nicolás Maduro’s government has responded 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 press office of Venezuela’s government did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the announcement.

The Pentagon did not offer any immediate comment on the reported incident.