No menu items!

COSTA RICA'S LEADING ENGLISH LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER

HomeTopicsLatin AmericaU.S. Strike Kills 11 'Narco-Terrorists' in Caribbean, Pentagon Says

U.S. Strike Kills 11 ‘Narco-Terrorists’ in Caribbean, Pentagon Says

The deadly U.S. attack on a suspected drug-trafficking vessel in the Caribbean is a “very clear” message from President Donald Trump to the cartels, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Wednesday.

On Tuesday, U.S. forces carried out a strike on a speedboat, and Trump claimed that 11 “narco-terrorists” were killed in the operation. According to him, the group was controlled by Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.

“You want to try trafficking drugs? This is a new day. It’s a different day. And that’s why those 11 drug traffickers are no longer with us, which sends a very clear signal that this is an activity the United States will not tolerate in our hemisphere,” Hegseth said on Fox News.

The Pentagon chief said he witnessed the attack live but refused to share details about how it was carried out.

“We knew exactly who was on that boat. We knew exactly what they were doing and who they represented: the Tren de Aragua,” Hegseth said, referring to a gang Washington designated as a terrorist organization earlier this year.

The U.S. Navy has deployed eight ships—seven in the Caribbean Sea and one in the Pacific Ocean—as part of what it claims is an anti-drug operation. Maduro has condemned their presence as a threat to Venezuela.

When asked whether regime change in Venezuela was the U.S. goal, Hegseth said: “That’s a presidential decision, and we are prepared with all the resources available to the U.S. military.”

Trending Now

U.S. Lists Costa Rica as Major Drug Transit Country

The U.S. government has placed Costa Rica on its annual list of major drug transit or production countries for fiscal year 2026. President Donald...

St Regis Papagayo Resort Breaks Ground in Costa Rica Guanacaste

Developers broke ground this week on the St. Regis Papagayo Resort, the luxury brand's first spot in Costa Rica. Solana leads the project on...

Costa Rica Celebrates Independence with Traditional Torch Relay

The Torch of Independence began its traditional journey through Costa Rica today. More than 22,000 students from across the country carry the torch both...

Costa Rica Rental House Stories – From Doorknob Disasters to Gecko Guests

We’ve lived in a long line of rental properties over our time in Costa Rica. In sequential order, we started in a tiny apartment...

Costa Rica’s OIJ Captures Suspects in Roberto Samcam Murder

The Judicial Investigation Agency (OIJ) carried out multiple raids on Friday morning to capture suspects in the murder of Roberto Samcam, a former Nicaraguan...

Costa Rica Plummets in FIFA Rankings Amid World Cup Qualifier Struggles

The Costa Rican national soccer team is facing a pivotal crisis, confirmed by the latest FIFA rankings published today. La Sele fell seven spots,...
spot_img
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Travel Insurance
Costa Rica Rocking Chait
Costa Rica Travel

Latest News from Costa Rica