In a striking display of U.S. military action, President Donald Trump has revealed video footage of a drone strike that obliterated a massive drug-carrying submarine in the Caribbean this week.
According to Fox News, the operation, which resulted in two deaths and two captures, marks the latest effort in ongoing U.S. combat initiatives to curb drug smuggling in the region.
On Friday, Trump first mentioned the operation during a White House meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. He followed up with an official announcement on Saturday via Truth Social, providing details of the strike. The attack targeted what Trump described as a specially built vessel transporting a significant load of narcotics, primarily fentanyl, toward the United States.
"It was my great honor to destroy a very large DRUG-CARRYING SUBMARINE," Trump declared in his statement. The released footage offers a rare glimpse into the precision of U.S. military operations against drug trafficking networks. According to Trump, the vessel was navigating a well-known transit route used by narco-traffickers in the Caribbean.
"U.S. Intelligence confirmed this vessel was loaded up with mostly Fentanyl," Trump noted in his remarks. He added, "There were four known narcoterrorists on board. Two of the terrorists were killed." The strike resulted in the deaths of two individuals identified as suspected narco-terrorists.
Two others survived the attack and were rescued by the U.S. Navy following the operation. They are currently being held on an American warship, as confirmed by Fox News. Trump stated that these individuals will be sent back to their home countries for legal proceedings.
"The two surviving terrorists are being returned to their Countries of origin, Ecuador and Colombia, for detention and prosecution," Trump explained. This marks the first official disclosure of the survivors’ nationalities and identities. Their transfer reflects ongoing international efforts to address drug trafficking through collaborative justice.
This operation is the sixth of its kind since the U.S. initiated combat missions in the Caribbean last month. While the Pentagon has not officially named the broader operation, the frequency of these interdictions highlights the region’s significance in the drug war. Trump emphasized the impact of such actions in safeguarding American lives from the dangers of illegal drugs.
The president claimed that this specific interdiction could have prevented a staggering number of overdose deaths in the U.S. He estimated the figure to be as high as 25,000, underscoring the scale of the threat posed by the narcotics on board. The vessel’s destruction is seen as a significant blow to trafficking networks aiming to flood American streets with deadly substances.
Earlier this week, Trump confirmed that he had greenlit CIA activities in the Caribbean to support anti-drug efforts. On Thursday, the U.S. Air Force also conducted a visible mission with B-52 bombers near Venezuelan waters. This show of force signals a strong American military presence in the area amid escalating operations.
The White House has not yet provided a response to inquiries from Fox News Digital regarding the strike. Public reaction to the released video and the operation itself continues to unfold as more details emerge. Trump’s proactive announcements on social media platforms like Truth Social keep the issue in the national spotlight.
The Caribbean has long been a hotspot for drug smuggling, with routes exploited by criminal organizations for decades. U.S. efforts to disrupt these networks have intensified in recent years with advanced technology and military resources. Operations like this submarine strike demonstrate the evolving tactics employed to combat the crisis at its source.
Trump has taken a hands-on approach in communicating the success of this mission to the public. "We attacked a submarine, and that was a drug-carrying submarine built specifically for the transportation of massive amounts of drugs," he reiterated. His direct statements aim to highlight the administration’s commitment to tackling the opioid epidemic through decisive action.
Fox News Digital reporters Louis Casiano and Lucas Tomlinson have contributed to the comprehensive reporting of this event. Their insights have helped verify critical details, including the status of the rescued individuals. Media coverage continues to play a vital role in informing the public about these high-profile military engagements. The destruction of this drug-laden submarine raises questions about the future of U.S. operations in the Caribbean. With multiple interdictions in a short span, the region remains a focal point for American counter-narcotics strategy. The outcomes of these missions could shape international policies and partnerships in the fight against drug trafficking.