The U.S. military killed 11 alleged Tren da Aragua members aboard a suspected drug boat originating from Venezuela in the southern Caribbean on Sept. 2.
The move, announced by President Donald Trump during a press conference, marks a milestone in increasingly militarized U.S. counterdrug efforts in the region. Trump secretly authorized military force against drug cartels in early August.
Trump described the strike in a post on Truth Social.
"Earlier this morning, on my Orders, U.S. Military Forces conducted a kinetic strike against positively identified Tren de Aragua Narcoterrorists in the SOUTHCOM area of responsibility," Trump said. "The strike occurred while the terrorists were at sea in International waters transporting illegal narcotics, heading to the United States. The strike re