STORY: President Donald Trump said on Monday (September 15) that the U.S. military carried out a strike on an alleged Venezuelan drug cartel vessel heading to the United States, the second such strike carried out against a suspected drug boat in recent weeks.

He said three men were killed in the strike, adding that it occurred in international waters. Trump provided no evidence for his assertion that the boat was carrying drugs.

"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," Trump said in a post on Truth Social.

"These extremely violent drug trafficking cartels POSE A THREAT to U.S. National Security, Foreign Policy, and vital U.S. Interests," Trump said. U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) is the military's combatant command which encompasses 31 countries through South and Central America and the Caribbean.

The post also included a nearly 30-second video, with markings of "Unclassified" on the top, which appeared to show a vessel in a body of water exploding and then on fire.

Reuters conducted initial checks on the video with an AI detection tool but the video was partly blurred, making it impossible to confirm if the video was manipulated.

However, thorough verification is an ongoing process, and Reuters will continue to review the footage as more information becomes available.

The Venezuelan communications ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The latest strike comes amid a large U.S. military buildup in the southern Caribbean. Five U.S. 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. There are also at least seven U.S. warships in the region, along with one nuclear-powered submarine.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

Trump says US struck another Venezuelan drug vessel, killing three

VIDEO SHOWS: VIDEO RELEASED BY U.S. PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP SHOWING WHAT HE SAYS IS A U.S. MILITARY STRIKE IN INTERNATIONAL WATERS AGAINST A BOAT THAT HE SAYS BELONGED TO VENEZUELAN DRUG CARTEL MEMBERS / POSTS BY TRUMP ON TRUTH SOCIAL

EDITORS NOTE: REUTERS CHECKED THE FOOTAGE THROUGH OUR AI DETECTION TOOL AND THE BLURRED PART MAKES IT IMPOSSIBLE TO CONFIRM IF THE VIDEO ITSELF WAS MANIPULATED

RESENDING WITH ADDITIONAL INFORMATION IN THE SCRIPT

SHOWS: AT SEA (RELEASED SEPTEMBER 15, 2025) (DONALD TRUMP VIA TRUTH SOCIAL - No resale. No archive. Must on-screen courtesy Donald Trump via Truth Social.) (MUTE)

1. BOAT IN WATER WITH 'UNCLASSIFIED' WRITTEN ABOVE VIDEO

2. FLASH OF EXPLOSION

3. BOAT ON FIRE IN WATER

INTERNET (SEPTEMBER 15, 2025) (SOCIAL MEDIA - Access all) (MUTE)

4. POST BY U.S. PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP READING:

"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. 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. Thank you for your attention to this matter!!!"

5. FIRST PART OF POST BY U.S. PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP READING:

"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. These extremely violent drug trafficking cartels POSE A THREAT to"

6. SECOND PART OF POST BY U.S. PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP READING:

"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. Thank you for your attention to this matter!!!"