The U.S. military attacked a vessel from Venezuela in the Caribbean on Tuesday (September 2) that was carrying illegal drugs, officials said, in the first known operation since the Trump administration's recent surge of warships to the region.

The Venezuelan Communications Ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The United States has deployed warships in the southern Caribbean with the aim of following through on Trump's pledge to crack down on drug cartels.

Tuesday's strike appeared to be the first such military operation in the region to that effect. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, in a post on X, said the boat had departed from Venezuela and was struck in the southern Caribbean.

Although Rubio called it "a lethal strike," the Trump administration did not immediately confirm whether anyone was killed.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA, UNITED STATES (SEPTEMBER 2, 2025)(U.S. NETWORK POOL - No use USA)

1. U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE MARCO RUBIO WALKING TOWARDS REPORTERS AND GREETING THEM

2. WHITE FLASH

3. (SOUNDBITE)(English) U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE, MARCO RUBIO, SAYING:

"(Reporters asking Rubio to share details on drug carrying vessel attacked by the US) Well, the president made the announcement and said it was a lethal strike. I think the Pentagon will have more details and other things to offer you here in the next few hours. The drug vessel, it was carrying drugs. (Reporters asking: Size?) I'll refer you to the Pentagon. They'll give you more details on that when in the next, I anticipate shortly, probably while we're in the air. (Reporter asking: How many deaths with the lethal force?) Again, look, I'm trying to be evasive all at the Pentagon answer that. Suffice it to say that the president is going to be on offense against drug cartels and drug trafficking in the United States and destabilizing not just the country, but the entire Caribbean Basin. These particular drugs are probably headed to Trinidad or some other country in the Caribbean, at which point they just contribute to the instability these countries are facing. So the president's been very clear that he's going to use the full power of America and the full might of the United States to take on and eradicate these drug cartels, no matter where they're operating from and no matter how long they've been able to act with impunity that those days are over."

4. WHITE FLASH

5. (SOUNDBITE)(English) U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE, MARCO RUBIO, SAYING:

"(Reporter asking off camera: Do you plan those operations? Did you expect those operations to continue?) I think as long as those vessels are in the region and as long as the president's in the White House, he's made very clear he's not going to allow the United States to continue to be flooded with cocaine and fentanyl and other drugs coming from different places. This one from Venezuela, which it is a common route that, by the way, some of it ends up in Europe, a lot of it ends up in Puerto Rico and then on into the United States mainland. So no one should be surprised. That's why we're there on a counter-drug mission and they're going to continue to operate. As far as specifics in future operations, I have to refer you to the Pentagon on that. This is a DOD operation."

6. WHITE FLASH

7. (SOUNDBITE)(English) U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE, MARCO RUBIO, SAYING:

"(Reporter asking off camera: You said it was operated by a cartel, can you share which cartel?) Again now that the operators discuss all of that. But I thought it was, you know, the president was very clear, and that is we destroyed a drug boat that left Venezuela operated by a designated narco terrorist organization, which is what these are. And he's been clear that the days of acting with impunity, and having an engine shot down or a couple of drugs grabbed off the boat, and take, those days are over now and we are going to wage combat against drug cartels that are flooding American streets and killing Americans."

8. WHITE FLASH

9. (SOUNDBITE)(English) U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE, MARCO RUBIO, SAYING:

"(Reporter asking off camera: What is the legal authority for the strike?) The legal authority? Well, look, I again, I'm not going to answer for the White House counsel. Suffice it to say that all of those steps were taken in advance. The president has designated these as terrorist organizations, which is what they are. When you flood American streets with drugs, you are terrorizing America. And that's going to end."

10. WHITE FLASH

11. (SOUNDBITE)(English) U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE, MARCO RUBIO, SAYING:

"It states the president's top obligation is to secure the national interest and the national security of our people. I know of no president. That means that more than this one, our president now President Trump. And so, you know, I'm not going to speculate about what might come down the road."

12. RUBIO BOARDING AIRCRAFT