American troop dies after US Navy destroyer collides with supply ship in Caribbean

After an extensive search operation, the US Marine was pronounced dead, becoming the first casualty linked to the White House’s crackdown on drug-trafficking vessels.

The circumstances surrounding his death remain under military investigation.

Col Tom Trimble, commanding officer of the Marine Expeditionary Unit, said: “We are all grieving alongside the Oforah family.

“The loss of Lance Corporal Oforah is deeply felt across the entire Navy-Marine Corps team. He will be profoundly missed, and his dedicated service will not be forgotten.”

In a separate incident in the Caribbean Sea, two sailors were injured when a US Navy destroyer collided with a supply ship.

Military officials confirmed the collision between the USS Truxtun and the USNS Supply occurred on Wednesday during a replenishment-at-sea operation.

The two military personnel had suffered minor injuries, but are in stable condition, according to the US Southern Command.

"Yesterday [Wednesday] afternoon, the Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS Truxtun (DDG103) and the Supply-class fast combat support ship USNS Supply (T-AOE-6) collided during a replenishment-at-sea," a military spokesman said.

The cause of the collision remains under investigation, but both ships are reported to be sailing safely, added the spokesman.

Sal Mercogliano, the source of the footage, said the incident may have been caused by the presence of the USS Gettysburg, which was being refuelled on the other side of USS Truxtun.

USNS Supply was stuck in the middle of both warships as the USS Truxtun approached at a steep angle.

USS Truxtun left home port in Norfolk, Virginia on February 3.

The destroyer briefly returned for several days to conduct emergency repairs, setting sail for the Caribbean on February 6, according to one anonymous military source.

A statement from the Marines said the search for Lance Corporal Oforah involved five US Navy ships, a rigid-hull inflatable boat, and 10 aircraft from the Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force.

The "non-stop" search effort included hundreds of flight hours and efforts from surface rescue swimmer teams, according to the Marines.

The USS Iwo Jima was used to transport Nicolas Maduro to New York after his capture.

Strikes in the Caribbean against drug trafficking ships have decreased after US forces captured the Venezuelan president.

War Secretary Pete Hegseth has said the goal of Operation Southern Spear is to "narco-terrorists from our hemisphere" and secure the US from "the drugs that are killing our people".