President Donald Trump has said US forces carried out a "lethal kinetic strike" on a vessel which he said was trafficking drugs, and the attack killed three "male narcoterrorists" on board.
Trump said he ordered the attack on the boat, which was in the US Southern Command's area of responsibility, after US intelligence confirmed it was trafficking drugs. It was the third such strike on alleged drug boats in recent weeks.
Trump's statement on Truth Social on Friday said the strike happened in international waters. The US Southern Command's area of responsibility covers most of South America and the Caribbean.
Two previous strikes have killed a total of 14 people on boats allegedly from Venezuela.
Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has previously condemned the strikes and said his country will defend itself against US "aggression".
