United States strikes a train in Aragua, leading to the loss of 11 lives according to Trump's claims

In a bold move, President Donald Trump announced a military strike against a drug-smuggling vessel on Tuesday, marking a departure from traditional drug interception efforts. The kinetic attack, carried out by U.S. military forces, targeted a vessel operated by a "designated narcoterrorist organization" in international waters off the coast of South America near Venezuela.

The vessel, identified as carrying a large amount of drugs, was part of the Tren de Aragua, a Venezuelan drug cartel that has been accused of turning the country into a "narco-state" and leading an extensive drug trafficking organization known as the Cartel of the Suns.

The specific special operations unit involved in the operation was not explicitly named, but reports suggest it was either an attack helicopter or an unmanned MQ-9 Reaper drone. The 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit, with 2,200 Marines, has also been deployed in the region, along with the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group, including the USS San Antonio, the USS Iwo Jima, and the USS Fort Lauderdale, along with 4,500 sailors. Several P-8 surveillance aircraft and at least one submarine have also been deployed.

The strike was accompanied by a video showing a speedboat being destroyed by an explosion. The Pentagon has been instructed to use military force against some Latin American drug cartels designated as "terrorist" organizations.

Charges against Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and Diosdado Cabello Rondón, a close ally, are still pending in relation to their alleged involvement in the drug trade. Maduro has threatened to declare his country in a state of armed conflict if attacked by U.S. forces.

The target of the strike, a member of the Tren de Aragua, Carvajal, pleaded guilty to narcoterrorism conspiracy in June. The Maduro government has been accused of providing safe havens for drug traffickers and facilitating the movement of drugs through the region.

Trump warned anyone thinking of bringing drugs into the United States, stating that such actions would not be tolerated. He also announced that the strike resulted in the death of 11 individuals identified as "terrorists."

The strike was covered by correspondents from The Times, including Helene Cooper (Pentagon), Eric Schmitt (national security), Edward Wong (global affairs), Alan Feuer (U.S. foreign policy), and Eric Schmitt (extremism and political violence).