Third Venezuela attack: Trump confirms it

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Tuesday, September 16, that U.S. forces have so far attacked three alleged drug trafficking vessels from Venezuela in the Caribbean Sea and not two, as he had previously said.

“We shot down ships. It was actually three ships, not two, but you saw two,” Trump told reporters at the White House before departing for the United Kingdom for a state visit.

Trump confirms third attack on Venezuelan boat

Trump attack boat Venezuela, Trump, attack boat Venezuela, Venezuela, QuéOnnda — Trump confirms third attack on Venezuelan boat / PHOTO: Agencia Efe-capture of video released by The White House

The president was asked about statements made by Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, in which he accused the U.S. of wanting to invade his country.

“Stop sending (members of the) Aragua Train to the United States. Stop sending drugs to the United States,” Trump responded.

The Republican referred to this third vessel a day after reporting through his Truth Social account that the U.S. military had attacked a boat in which, he said, three people, whom he described as ‘terrorists’, were killed.

Shortly afterwards, in the Oval Office, he stated that the destroyed boat was carrying cocaine and fentanyl.

On Saturday, September 13, Caracas denounced that a U.S. “destroyer” boarded “illegally” and occupied for eight hours a Venezuelan vessel with “nine fishermen” who were – it stressed – in the waters of the South American country.

However, the United States had not yet reacted.

These attacks come in the midst of escalating tensions between the United States and Venezuela over the US military deployment in the Caribbean Sea in the name of combating drug trafficking.

The Trump Administration accuses Maduro of leading the so-called Cartel of the Suns, something the Venezuelan government denies, and has offered a $50 million reward for information leading to the capture of the Venezuelan leader.

Maduro affirmed on Monday that communications with the United States are “undone” in the face of what he considers an “aggression” by the North American country, and added that Venezuela is now “more prepared” if an “armed struggle” were to take place.