U.S. Launches Attack on Suspected Drug Vessel, Killing 11
Eleven individuals, identified as "narcoterrorists," lost their lives during an American military operation in the southern Caribbean. The action was directed at a suspected drug vessel reportedly from a notorious Venezuelan gang.
The Targeted Operation
The vessel was said to be on international waters, carrying illegal narcotics allegedly for the U.S. market. The operation was executed against members of the Tren de Aragua, a recognized Venezuelan gang involved in drug trafficking.
The escalated political and military pressure against Venezuela's current regime, particularly its President Nicolás Maduro, has become more evident recently. This includes a massive reward for information that could lead to Maduro's arrest on drug-trafficking charges. Maduro, however, has pledged that Venezuela will resist any U.S. military intervention.
The Operation Details
In a conversation with the media, it was indicated that U.S. forces had destroyed a "drug-carrying boat" near Venezuela. The operation was described as a "kinetic strike" against the identified Tren de Aragua narcoterrorists.
"There were a lot of drugs on that boat," the statement continued. The briefing was provided by General Dan Caine, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
A follow-up statement read: "Earlier today, on my orders, U.S. Military Forces conducted a kinetic strike against positively identified Tren de Aragua Narcoterrorists. The strike resulted in 11 terrorists killed in action. No U.S. Forces were harmed in this strike. This should serve as a warning to anyone even contemplating bringing drugs into the United States of America. Beware!"
Reaction and Speculation
Images of the operation were shared, showing a motor boat speeding across rough waters before suddenly catching fire. These images, however, were met with skepticism from Venezuela's communication minister, who suggested without providing any proof, that these images were created with artificial intelligence.
While it remains unclear what specific drugs the vessel was carrying, the U.S. has continued its crackdown on drug trafficking and criminal organizations in Latin America since the start of the year.
However, the efforts to expedite the removal of Venezuelans based on allegations of criminality hit a roadblock when a U.S. appeals court ruled that a centuries-old wartime law could not be invoked to speed up these removals.
Increasing Military Presence
Recently, the U.S. military has increased its presence in the southern Caribbean, including the deployment of additional naval vessels and thousands of Marines and sailors. This is seen as a clear indication of the U.S.'s readiness to use force to stop the flow of drugs into the country.
In response to these deployments, the Venezuelan government has responded with resistance. The President of Venezuela has even threatened to "declare a republic in arms" if the U.S. attacked, considering these U.S. deployments as "the greatest threat seen on our continent in the last 100 years".
Despite the rising tensions, there are some areas where a more lenient approach has been taken towards Venezuela. For instance, a U.S. company has been reportedly given the green light to collaborate with Venezuela's state-run oil firm, PDVSA.