Six people have been killed after a U.S. military strike targeted a vessel off the northern coast of Venezuela late Wednesday night, marking the second such strike in less than two weeks and escalating already fragile tensions between Washington and Caracas. The attack — which officials described as a “precision maritime operation” — has triggered outrage in Venezuela and alarm among international observers fearing a broader confrontation in the Caribbean.
According to early reports from Reuters, the strike occurred near the Gulf of Paria, a strategic waterway frequently patrolled by both Venezuelan and U.S. forces. The vessel, described as a “high-speed craft,” was allegedly being monitored for suspected arms trafficking when U.S. forces launched the attack. The explosion was visible from the shoreline, with local fishermen reporting a “massive fireball” that lit up the night sky.
“We heard a thunderous blast and saw flames rising from the water,” one resident told AP News. “It wasn’t just a small explosion — the whole boat went up.” Videos posted online showed dark plumes of smoke and burning debris drifting toward the coast as emergency boats raced to the scene.
BREAKING: At least six people killed after U.S. forces strike vessel off Venezuela’s northern coast, officials confirm. @Reuters
U.S. officials later confirmed the strike, claiming the vessel was “engaged in hostile operations” linked to transnational criminal networks. A spokesperson for the Pentagon told reporters that U.S. forces “acted within international law and in defense of regional security interests,” but did not provide specific evidence of what threat the boat posed. The identities of those killed have not yet been made public.
Venezuelan authorities, however, immediately condemned the strike, calling it a “blatant act of aggression” against the country’s sovereignty. In a televised address, President Nicolás Maduro accused the U.S. of “provoking a regional conflict” and vowed a “firm and proportional response.”
“The United States has once again committed an act of war against the Venezuelan people,” Maduro declared. “This was not a criminal operation. This was an attack on Venezuelan territory and our citizens.”
“This was an act of war against the Venezuelan people,” says President Nicolás Maduro after U.S. strike. @AP
The strike comes amid rising tensions in the region. Just last week, U.S. forces intercepted and destroyed another vessel in nearby waters under similar circumstances. At the time, the U.S. claimed the ship was carrying “dangerous contraband” and posed “a clear and imminent threat.” Venezuelan officials disputed those claims, calling them “fabricated pretexts for intervention.”
Sources close to the Venezuelan military told BBC News that at least four of the people killed in Wednesday night’s strike were Venezuelan nationals, including two crew members and two unidentified passengers. Two others are believed to be foreign nationals. Their bodies were recovered early Thursday morning as search teams combed the debris.
Witnesses onshore described a chaotic aftermath as the burning vessel slowly sank beneath the waves. “We could hear screams,” said a fisherman who rushed to help. “But by the time we got close, the fire was too strong. It was terrible to watch.”
“We could hear screams, but the fire was too strong.” — Witness off Venezuela’s coast @BBCWorld
In Washington, senior defense officials briefed reporters late into the night, describing the operation as “necessary and precise.” They claimed intelligence indicated the boat was part of a larger network smuggling weapons and narcotics through Caribbean waters. One official, speaking to NBC News, said: “This was not a random strike. This was a carefully planned operation based on credible intelligence.”
But international observers are raising serious questions about the legality and proportionality of the strikes. Human rights groups including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have called for a full investigation, warning that such unilateral actions risk escalating the situation into a broader conflict. “Strikes in disputed waters raise serious concerns about international law and accountability,” one legal analyst said.
Regional leaders have also begun weighing in. The governments of Brazil, Colombia, and Mexico issued a joint statement urging restraint and calling for an emergency session of the Organization of American States to address the growing crisis. “We cannot afford a military escalation in our region,” the statement read. “This situation demands diplomacy, not violence.”
“This situation demands diplomacy, not violence.” — Joint statement from Brazil, Colombia & Mexico @OAS_official
Meanwhile, anti-U.S. protests have already begun in Caracas, with crowds gathering outside the U.S. Embassy chanting anti-American slogans and waving Venezuelan flags. Protesters burned effigies of President Joe Biden and held signs reading “Hands Off Venezuela.” Security forces were deployed to maintain order as tensions flared late into the night.
Political analysts told The New York Times that the strikes represent a dangerous escalation in U.S.-Venezuela relations, already strained by years of sanctions and mutual hostility. “This isn’t just about one boat,” said one expert. “This is about power projection, control of strategic waterways, and how far each side is willing to go.”
In a late-night statement, the White House reiterated its commitment to “ensuring security and stability in the region” and blamed “illicit networks” operating under Venezuelan protection for provoking the strike. But inside Venezuela, the sentiment is very different. State media is already framing the incident as proof of “U.S. imperial aggression,” and military forces have reportedly been placed on heightened alert.
“The risk of miscalculation is growing by the hour,” one regional security analyst told Al Jazeera. “We’re watching a very dangerous situation take shape just off Venezuela’s coast — and it won’t take much to push it over the edge.”
Investigations are still underway as to the identities of the victims and whether the vessel was indeed involved in illicit activity. Both governments have traded accusations, and tensions are likely to intensify in the coming days. If more strikes follow, experts warn, the Caribbean could become the next flashpoint in an already fragile global landscape.