US Navy Strike Hits Venezuela Narco Boat in Caribbean Escalation.

On September 15, 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump announced that a second strike had been carried out against a boat identified as linked to Venezuelan drug cartels in international waters. The Department of Defense confirmed the action, described as a special mission against narcoterrorists operating in the area of responsibility of U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM). The episode takes place at the heart of growing tensions between Washington and Caracas, already marked by accusations of airspace violations and an increase in naval deployments on both sides.
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Operation "Crabe" was launched between January 30 and February 8, 2024, deploying tracked vehicles HT 270 for the first time to combat illegal gold mining (Picture source: Donald Trump Truth Social Account)

Since the end of summer 2025, the American military presence in the Caribbean has been significantly reinforced. Three Arleigh Burke-class destroyers – USS Gravely (DDG 107), USS Jason Dunham (DDG 109), and USS Sampson (DDG 102) – are operating in the Caribbean Sea, supported by the cruiser USS Lake Erie (CG 70). Together, these ships field more than 400 vertical launch system (VLS) cells, configured for SM-2, SM-6, ESSM, and Tomahawk missiles. The nuclear-powered attack submarine USS Newport News (SSN 750), a Los Angeles-class unit, adds a discreet strike capability with Tomahawk missiles and Mk 48 torpedoes. The amphibious group is built around USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7), accompanied by USS San Antonio (LPD 17) and USS Fort Lauderdale (LPD 28), carrying nearly 4,000 Marines from the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit.

The air component deployed is equally substantial. F-35B Lightning II aircraft have been based in Puerto Rico, providing air superiority, precision strike, and intelligence collection through advanced sensors. They operate alongside AV-8B Harrier II aircraft, P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol planes specialized in anti-submarine warfare, and MQ-9 Reaper drones capable of persistent surveillance and armed with AGM-114 Hellfire missiles or small guided bombs. The air package is supported by KC-135 and KC-46A tankers, as well as C-17 and C-5M strategic airlifters.

Operationally, the United States highlights a layered interdiction architecture, combining coastal radars, satellite surveillance, maritime patrols, and airborne assets. The engagement sequence follows a defined pattern: initial radar detection, infrared tracking, visual confirmation from altitude, then neutralization by an armed platform – drone, shipborne MH-60 helicopter, or fighter aircraft. Warning shots may precede lethal fire, but Washington insists that the targeted boats carried loads of cocaine and fentanyl bound for the United States.

The exact platform used in the September 15 strike has not been specified by the Pentagon. Several possibilities are considered: an MQ-9 Reaper drone armed with Hellfire missiles, a frigate equipped with an MH-60 helicopter and guided APKWS rockets, or a fighter jet deployed on short notice from a forward base. Each option offers different advantages. Helicopters allow a graduated response with visible warning shots, drones provide persistence and precision, while fast jets bring speed against moving targets. Videos circulating on social media show a boat exploding at sea, but they do not confirm the strike platform.

The U.S. administration points to the cargo recovered after the strike. Trump stated that the remains of the boat were surrounded by bags of cocaine and fentanyl, which he presented as proof of the criminal nature of the traffickers’ mission. This narrative aims to reinforce the legitimacy of the operation, while Caracas disputes the American version. Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro denounced an “act of aggression” and threatened to respond to what he described as a violation of national sovereignty. Two weeks earlier, the Venezuelan Air Force had launched F-16s to fly over an American destroyer in the Caribbean, highlighting the rising tension.

On the American side, the stated strategy is deterrence through visible action. Washington believes that demonstrating its ability to quickly neutralize a drug-laden boat sends a strong signal both to cartels and to regional governments. The Trump administration points to a reduction in maritime trafficking since the first strike, while acknowledging that most narcotics still enter the United States by land. Naval special operations forces play a central role in this approach, validating targets in real time and coordinating strikes with deployed assets.

Beyond the military dimension, the episode illustrates the continued deterioration of relations between Washington and Caracas. The United States does not recognize Maduro’s 2024 re-election, which it considers fraudulent, and accuses the Venezuelan leader of heading the so-called “Cartel of the Suns.” A U.S. federal warrant has been issued against him, with a reward of $50 million for information leading to his capture. Maduro, in turn, accuses Washington of imperialism and has called on the population to join civilian militias in preparation for national defense.