Trump says US struck alleged drug vessel in latest operation

20/9/2025 12:22

President Donald Trump said on Friday that the United States had attacked a vessel he said was carrying drugs in the U.S. Southern Command's area of responsibility, the latest U.S. strike in the region.



The latest strike - at least the third against alleged drug vessels - comes amid a large U.S. military buildup in the southern Caribbean. Five F-35 aircraft were seen landing in Puerto Rico on Saturday after the Trump administration ordered 10 of the stealth fighters to join the buildup.



In a post on Truth Social on Friday, Trump said the Pentagon carried out the strike on his orders, killing "3 male narcoterrorists aboard the vessel."



Trump did not provide evidence but did post a minute-long aerial video that showed two side-by-side videos of a vessel, one in color and one in black and white, as it moved through the water. About halfway through, the vessel appears to be struck by at least one projectile and then explodes. The video ends with a single aerial angle of the vessel on fire in the water.



Trump did not say where the vessel departed from or where specifically the strike took place.