US President Trump announces 11 deaths in an attack on a drug-laden vessel from Venezuela.

In a significant development, President Donald Trump announced on Tuesday that U.S. forces had attacked a drug-carrying boat in international waters, resulting in the death of 11 individuals. The attack, which marked a potential escalation in the standoff between Caracas and Washington, followed days of mounting tension between the two nations.

According to reports, the boat was allegedly controlled by the Venezuelan gang, Tren de Aragua, a group that President Trump has linked to Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro. The U.S. designated Tren de Aragua as a terrorist organization earlier this year.

The attack took place in international waters, a fact that has added fuel to the fire in the ongoing dispute between the two nations. Venezuela has petitioned the United Nations to intervene in the matter, claiming the U.S. military deployment as a threat to the country. Maduro's re-election in 2024 and 2018 were not recognized by the United States or much of the international community.

In response to the attack, Maduro has cast the recent U.S. deployment as a threat to the country. He has also prepared for "a period of armed struggle in defense of the national territory" in case of an attack. Venezuela's foreign minister, Jorge Arreaza, stated that the U.S. actions were a clear violation of international law.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has vowed to continue using the full might of the United States to eradicate drug cartels. He stated that the vessel involved in the attack had departed from Venezuela. Washington has doubled the bounty for the capture of Maduro to $50 million.

The deployment of eight U.S. Navy ships to Latin America for a war on drug trafficking was announced earlier this year. President Trump later posted a statement about the strike on his Truth Social network, warning anyone thinking about bringing drugs into the U.S. to beware.

Despite the rising tensions, there is no verified information about a terrorist gang transporting drugs under the command of Nicolás Maduro in international waters on Monday. However, the new death toll has sparked concerns about the potential for further escalation in the standoff between Caracas and Washington.