Donald Trump has shared extraordinary footage of American forces carrying out a “a kinetic strike” on a drug-trafficking boat in the Caribbean Sea, killing 11 Venezuelan members of a violent cartel.
Mr Trump announced the operation during an address at the White House on Tuesday, telling reporters the US military had “just, over the last few minutes, literally shot out... a drug-carrying boat”.
He added: “And there’s more where that came from. We have a lot of drugs pouring into our country."
After the address concluded, the US President wrote on his Truth Social platform: "Earlier this morning, on my orders, US military forces conducted a kinetic strike against positively identified Tren de Aragua narcoterrorists in the SOUTHCOM area of responsibility."
SOUTHCOM, or the United States Southern Command, covers the Caribbean and the entirety of Latin America south of Mexico.
Mr Trump announced the operation during an address at the White House on Tuesday
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"TDA is a designated foreign terrorist organisation, operating under the control of Nicolas Maduro, responsible for mass murder, drug trafficking, sex trafficking, and acts of violence and terror across the United States and Western Hemisphere.
"The strike occurred while the terrorists were at sea in International waters transporting illegal narcotics, heading to the United States.
"The strike resulted in 11 terrorists killed in action. No US forces were harmed in this strike.
"Please let this serve as notice to anybody even thinking about bringing drugs into the United States of America. BEWARE!"
The Human Rights Foundation accused Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro of using Tren de Aragua to carry out executions of dissidents
| GETTYIn April, the Human Rights Foundation (HRF) accused Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro of using Tren de Aragua to carry out executions of dissidents beyond the country's borders.
The HRF's chief advocacy officer Roberto Gonzalez said: “The Maduro regime is exporting terror by partnering with violent criminal networks.
"For Maduro, organised crime has become a tool of political repression abroad."
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio was questioned over whether similar strikes were planned while US vessels were in the area to counter drug cartels, to which he said "no one should be surprised" if more operations occur.
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US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said 'no one should be surprised' if more operations occur
|GETTY
Mr Rubio added: "That's why they're there on a counter drug mission, and they're going to continue to operate.
"As far as specifics and future operations, I have to refer you to the Pentagon on that.
“Suffice it to say that the President is going to be on offence against drug cartels [and] drug trafficking in the United States.
"The President's been very clear that he's going to use the full power of America, the full might of the United States, to take on and eradicate these drug cartels, no matter where they're operating from.”
Mr Trump's latest confrontation with the Venezuelan leader comes just weeks after his administration announced a $50million (£37million) reward for information leading to Mr Maduro's arrest.
The dictator's allies have claimed the US will attempt a regime-change operation in the South American country, warning the US President that hardliners such as Mr Rubio were trying to start a "terrible war".
The Venezuelan dictator said: "Mr President Donald Trump, you need to take care because Marco Rubio wants to stain your hands with blood - with South American, Caribbean blood [and] Venezuelan blood.
"They want to lead you into a bloodbath... with a massacre against the people of Venezuela."