President Donald Trump announced Friday that U.S. forces carried out a third military strike against a vessel allegedly involved in narcotics trafficking in international waters. In a video posted to his Truth Social account, Trump said the operation targeted a ship affiliated with a designated terrorist organization operating in the U.S. Southern Command (USSOUTHCOM) area of responsibility.
“On my orders, the Secretary of War authorized a lethal kinetic strike on a vessel confirmed to be transporting illicit narcotics along a known trafficking route,” Trump said. “The strike killed three male narcoterrorists aboard the vessel. No U.S. forces were harmed.”
Trump used the post to issue a stern warning to drug traffickers, stating: “Stop selling fentanyl, narcotics, and illegal drugs in America, and committing violence and terrorism against Americans.”
This follows a similar announcement made on Monday, when Trump said U.S. forces conducted a second strike against another drug-smuggling vessel. According to Trump, that operation also resulted in the deaths of three individuals identified as “extraordinarily violent” narcoterrorists.
Earlier this month, on September 2, Trump revealed the first successful strike under what he described as a new crackdown on drug trafficking operations targeting the United States. That initial strike reportedly targeted a boat linked to Venezuela’s Tren de Aragua gang. Trump shared footage of the attack and issued a warning: “Let this serve as notice to anybody even thinking about bringing drugs into the United States of America. Beware!”
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Reinforcing his tough stance on Monday, Trump added, “If you are transporting drugs that can kill Americans, we are hunting you,” and condemned the long-term impact of drug cartels on American communities.
“These illicit activities have had devastating consequences for decades, killing millions of American citizens. No longer,” he said.