Vessel struck by U.S. military off Venezuela was heading back to shore, AP sources say

Source: NBC News/AP

Sept. 11, 2025, 9:25 PM EDT / Source: The Associated Press


WASHINGTON — The U.S. military strike on what the Trump administration says was a drug-carrying speedboat from Venezuela came after the vessel had turned around and was heading back to shore, raising fresh questions from members of Congress demanding more information about the provocative attack.

National security officials acknowledged during a closed briefing this week on Capitol Hill that the boat carrying 11 people, described by the Trump administration as Tren de Aragua gang members, was fired on multiple times by the U.S. military after it had changed course, according to two people familiar with the situation who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the private meeting. The New York Times first reported the development.

The emerging details come as the Trump administration has justified the military strike, but several senators, Democrats and some Republicans, have indicated dissatisfaction with the administration’s rationale and questioned the legality of the action. They view it as a potential overreach of executive authority in part by using the military for law enforcement purposes.

Democrats contest legal reasoning for the strike

In a letter to the White House, Sen. Tim Kaine of Virginia and two dozen other Democratic senators said the Trump administration has provided “no legitimate legal justification” for the strike.

Read more: https://www.nbcnews.com/world/venezuela/vessel-struck-us-military-venezuela-was-heading-back-shore-rcna230739