VIDEO: 11 Dead After U.S. Military Shoots Down Venezuelan Drug Vessel
By Cory Wayland
The United States carried out a deadly military strike Tuesday against a drug vessel tied to the Venezuelan cartel Tren de Aragua, President Donald Trump announced, marking a major escalation in U.S. operations against Latin American drug networks.
Trump said 11 people were killed in the strike, which took place in “international waters.” Secretary of State Marco Rubio described the operation as targeting a vessel that had departed from Venezuela, calling it a “lethal strike” against a cartel responsible for trafficking drugs and committing acts of violence across the hemisphere.
The strike comes amid a significant U.S. military presence in the region, with more than 4,000 Marines and sailors deployed to Caribbean and Latin American waters, giving the administration a broad range of options against drug cartels.
The buildup and strike have drawn condemnation from Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, who called the U.S. threat “extravagant” and “absolutely criminal.” Maduro said Venezuela has prepared for “maximum readiness” in the face of U.S. military pressure and vowed not to “bow to threats.”
The Trump administration has also increased the bounty for Maduro to $50 million for drug trafficking.
This story was first published by Antigua News on : antigua.news/2025/09/02/video-11-dead-after-u-s-military-shoots-down-venezuelan-drug-vessel. © 2025 Antigua News. Republication without permission is not allowed.

About the author
Cory Wayland is the Social Media Co-ordinator at Antigua.News, where he manages digital content strategy, audience engagement, and real-time news publications across social platforms. With a keen eye for trending topics and a commitment to factual storytelling, Cory plays a key role in shaping the online voice of Antigua.News.
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