Families Say Maduro Lied and Confirm Trump's Version of the U.S. Navy Strike that Killed 11 Venezuelans

While the Maduro administration insists that the White House "invented" an attack against a Venezuelan vessel allegedly filled with drugs and that the video offered as proof was "made with AI," families and friends of the 11 men killed in the U.S. military strike are confirming their deaths, posting photographs and tributes on social media, and giving faces and names to the victims.

Eight of the 11 men were residents of the coastal town of San Juan de Unare, a fishing community in Sucre state. Venezuelan TikTok is flooded with messages such as "San Juan de Unare in mourning" and "May those fathers rest in peace. They entered that world out of necessity so their families could live a little better." Other posts read "How did you leave us, my brother," and "Behind a 'that was God's will' are endless tears and endless questions."

According to independent reports, the vessel departed San Juan de Unare on the night of Sunday, September 1, and was destroyed the following morning in the Caribbean Sea. Beside the eight men from Unare, the extra three came from nearby villages.

The boat was described by the local media as "a flipper. It measured about 12 meters in length and 2.5 meters in width. It was powered by four 200-horsepower engines." Witnesses and local journalists said that two other boats loaded with drugs had left earlier along the same route and were not intercepted.

President Donald Trump said on September 2 that the strike was a direct hit on narco traffickers. The U.S. government said the operation was part of a strategy to curb the flow of drugs in the Caribbean. Authorities linked the trip to members of the Tren de Aragua criminal group. No identities or evidence of drug cargo have been released.

Venezuelan journalist Ronna Rísquez, author of a book on Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua, explained that San Juan de Unare has been under the influence of traffickers for years. César Batiz, director of El Pitazo, confirmed details of the vessel and its route based on sources in the region. Both agree that the area has become a known corridor for drug shipments.

An international crisis?

The strike has sparked international debate. Colombia's government, starting with President Gustavo Petro and more, called the incident an extrajudicial killing. Officials in Bogotá argued that suspects should have been arrested rather than executed at sea. In contrast, Trinidad and Tobago's prime minister praised the U.S. action and said traffickers bring violence to her country.

Legal experts have also raised concerns. Analysts say drug interdictions in the Caribbean are usually carried out by the U.S. Coast Guard. Arrests and seizures are common. The use of lethal force to destroy a boat without presenting evidence is rare. Some lawyers warn that the incident may violate international law.

In San Juan de Unare, the focus remains on the loss of life. The community has seen military patrols increase since the attack. Fear is spreading in the town. Residents say they feel abandoned both by their own government and by international powers.