The United States carried out another strike in the southern Caribbean, deepening tensions with Venezuela as Washington expands its military presence in the region.
The latest operation comes as five US F-35 fighter jets arrived in Puerto Rico on Saturday, part of a deployment of 10 stealth aircraft ordered by the Trump administration. At least seven US warships and a nuclear-powered submarine are also stationed nearby.
Speaking to reporters, President Donald Trump suggested the operations could expand to land targets, saying, “When they come by land, we’re going to be stopping them the same way we stopped the boats.”
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, addressing sailors and Marines off Puerto Rico earlier this month, described them as being on the “front lines” of a counter-narcotics mission. In a post on X, Hegseth warned, “We will track them, kill them, and dismantle their networks throughout our hemisphere at the times and places of our choosing.”
Hours earlier, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro denounced US actions as “aggression” and said communications with Washington had largely broken down. The Trump administration has accused Maduro of links to organized crime and last month doubled its reward for information leading to his arrest to $50 million.
The strike follows a September 2 attack on another vessel, which US officials said was operated by members of Venezuela’s Tren de Aragua gang. Washington claimed 11 people were killed, but did not disclose details of the drugs seized, weapons used, or the circumstances of the engagement. Venezuelan officials denied the dead were gang members and alleged the video of the incident Trump shared online had been generated with artificial intelligence.
The decision to destroy suspected drug boats instead of seizing them has drawn criticism, with legal experts warning it could raise constitutional concerns since Congress holds the authority to declare war. Democratic Senator Adam Schiff announced Monday he is drafting a resolution under the War Powers Act to limit military action against non-state actors without congressional approval.
Meanwhile, Trump has directed that the Department of Defense be renamed the “Department of War,” pending approval by Congress—a move that would re-title Hegseth as “Secretary of War.”
