President Trump announced a “second” military strike against an alleged drug-trafficking boat from Venezuela, resulting in three deaths. “This morning, on my Orders, U.S. Military Forces conducted a SECOND Kinetic Strike against positively identified, extraordinarily violent drug trafficking cartels and narcoterrorists in the SOUTHCOM area of responsibility. The Strike occurred while these confirmed narcoterrorists from Venezuela were in International Waters transporting illegal narcotics (A DEADLY WEAPON POISONING AMERICANS!) headed to the U.S.,” Trump said. “These extremely violent drug trafficking cartels POSE A THREAT to U.S. National Security, Foreign Policy, and vital U.S. Interests. The Strike resulted in 3 male terrorists killed in action. No U.S. Forces were harmed in this Strike. BE WARNED — IF YOU ARE TRANSPORTING DRUGS THAT CAN KILL AMERICANS, WE ARE HUNTING YOU! The illicit activities by these cartels have wrought DEVASTATING CONSEQUENCES ON AMERICAN COMMUNITIES FOR DECADES, killing millions of American Citizens. NO LONGER,” he continued. Trump shared footage of the strike: This morning, on my Orders, U.S. Military Forces conducted a SECOND Kinetic Strike against positively identified, extraordinarily violent drug trafficking cartels and narcoterrorists in the SOUTHCOM area of responsibility. The Strike occurred while these confirmed narcoterrorists… pic.twitter.com/xede9v0GON — Trump Truth Social Posts On X (@TrumpTruthOnX) September 15, 2025 More from POLITICO: The strike marks the second attack on an alleged drug trafficking boat this month. A U.S. strike against a vessel leaving Venezuela earlier this month prompted lawmakers in both parties to raise concerns over the legality of the attacks. Many Democrats pushed the White House to provide legal justification in the days after the first strike. The White House has repeatedly argued it abided by laws governing “armed conflict” to justify its strike. “Classifying a clear law enforcement mission as counterterrorism does not confer legal authority to target and kill civilians,” Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) wrote last week in a letter addressed to Trump signed by 24 other Senate Democrats. The first strike against an accused drug vessel also sparked sharp backlash from Republican Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky, who attacked Vice President JD Vance for celebrating the attack. Trump was asked if he would provide proof the individuals on the boat were narcoterrorists on their way to the United States. “We have proof. All you have to do is look at the cargo that was, like, it’s spattered all over the ocean. Big bags of cocaine and fentanyl all over the place,” Trump answered. “And it was, plus we have recorded evidence that they were leaving. We’ve recorded them. It was very careful, because we know you people would be after us. We’re very careful. The military has been amazing,” he added. Check it out: Trump ON U.S. STRIKE OF DRUG CARTELS: "WE HAVE PROOF" "We have proof. All you have to do is look at the cargo that was, like, it's spattered all over the ocean. Big bags of cocaine and fentanyl all over the place. And it was, plus we have recorded evidence that they were… https://t.co/Xwcv2a0hT4 pic.twitter.com/TSIOYSxorC — Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) September 15, 2025 ABC News provided further info: Trump announced earlier this month that 11 people had been killed in a similar strike on a boat. Trump claimed the first drug boat, struck on Sept. 2, was carrying a “massive amounts of drugs,” and was operated by members of the South American gang Tren de Aragua. Venezuela’s interior minister, Diosdado Cabello, said last Thursday on state television that none of the members of the crew were part of Tren de Aragua or drug traffickers. The boat had turned around and was headed for shore shortly before the strike began, according to a person familiar with the matter, a detail first reported by The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal. There are currently eight Navy ships operating in the region: seven operating in the Caribbean and one in the Pacific.