Defense Department Sends Fighter Aircrafts to Puerto Rico

U.S. Military Strikes Drug-Laden Boat from Venezuela in Caribbean, Tensions Rise

In a significant development, the U.S. military attacked a suspected drug smuggler boat from Venezuela in Caribbean waters on September 2, 2025. The attack, which took place in international waters, resulted in the deaths of 11 suspects who were said to belong to the Venezuelan drug cartel "Tren de Aragua".

The targeted boat was associated with the Tren de Aragua, a Venezuelan drug gang that the U.S. government has designated as a foreign terrorist organization. This action by the U.S. military was aimed at disrupting U.S. operations against drug terrorism, according to a statement from the Pentagon.

The Defense Department's actions have been met with a stern warning to Venezuela against further attempts to hinder U.S. military operations against drugs. The statement was made on the X platform.

The U.S. naval ship, which was the target of the attack, is located in international waters. The conflict between Venezuela and the U.S. had intensified beforehand, with the U.S. deploying several warships off the Venezuelan Caribbean coast to intercept drug smugglers.

Puerto Rico, a U.S. territory but not part of the United States of America, is located in the Caribbean, north of Venezuela. The U.S. Department of Defense has ordered the deployment of ten F-35 fighter jets to Puerto Rico to support the fight against drug cartels.

There was a discrepancy in the initial reports about the direction in which the targeted boat was moving, with President Trump mentioning the U.S. and Senator Marco Rubio mentioning Trinidad and Tobago or another Caribbean country. It is unclear on what legal basis the U.S. acted in the attack.

The news of the U.S. military action was reported by several media outlets, including the "New York Times", CBS News, and "The Hill". The Pentagon stated that this action was part of its ongoing efforts to combat drug terrorism and protect U.S. interests in the region.

As tensions between Venezuela and the U.S. continue to rise, both countries will need to find a way to address their differences and work towards a peaceful resolution. The international community will be closely watching the situation to ensure that the rule of law is upheld and that the fight against drug terrorism continues unabated.