US Launches Strikes Against Tren de Aragua Drug Traffickers in Caribbean

Sat Oct 25 2025 13:08:01 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

The US military has conducted a series of strikes targeting the Tren de Aragua criminal organisation in the Caribbean, resulting in the deaths of six alleged narco-terrorists.

In a recent operation, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced the elimination of six drug traffickers linked to the Tren de Aragua in the Caribbean Sea. This strike is part of a broader campaign initiated by the Trump administration to combat drug trafficking, raising concerns among lawmakers about the legality and authority behind these military actions. The strikes come amid ongoing tensions with Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, whom the US has accused of being involved in drug trafficking activities.

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced Friday that the US had carried out another strike against a ship alleged to belong to drug traffickers.

The operation took place in the Caribbean Sea, targeting a group identified as the Tren de Aragua criminal organization.

Hegseth reported that six male narco-terrorists aboard the vessel were killed.

The US has executed a series of strikes in the region, which President Trump has framed as a crucial effort to reduce drug trafficking.

Hegseth shared a video documenting the operation on X, showcasing a boat marked for destruction before it erupted in flames and smoke.

This latest operation marks the tenth strike conducted by the administration since early September, predominantly in the Caribbean but also extending to the Pacific Ocean in late October.

Concerns have arisen among both Democratic and Republican legislators regarding the legality of these military actions and Trump's authority to initiate them. On September 10, 25 Democratic senators urged the White House, questioning the rationale behind a vessel strike performed without evident threats to the US.

Senator Rand Paul, a Republican, highlighted that such military actions should operate under congressional approval.

Trump maintains that he is justified in ordering these strikes, having designated Tren de Aragua as a terrorist organization. He stated, We're allowed to do that, and if we do (it) by land, we may go back to Congress, during a press briefing.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasized that to halt the destruction of drug boats by US operations, there needs to be a cessation of drug shipments to the US.

The fatalities reported in this recent operation elevates the total number of deaths attributed to US military strikes to at least 43.

Moreover, these actions are perceived to serve not only a drug trafficking agenda but also to exert military pressure on Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, a longstanding adversary of Trump, who has adamantly refuted claims of his affiliation with drug trafficking.