Washington: US President Donald Trump announced that American military forces have carried out a second strike in two weeks, targeting a vessel allegedly involved in drug trafficking from Venezuela. The operation took place in international waters and resulted in the deaths of three people on board.

In a statement posted on social media, Trump said, "This morning, on my Orders, US Military Forces conducted a SECOND Kinetic Strike against positively identified, extraordinarily violent drug trafficking cartels and narcoterrorists in the SOUTHCOM area of responsibility."

He emphasised that these cartels pose a serious threat to U.S. national security and foreign policy, calling the action necessary to protect American interests.

The post also included an unclassified video showing a boat catching fire in an undisclosed location at sea.

This latest strike follows an earlier US military operation on September 2, which targeted another alleged drug vessel. That attack left 11 people dead, whom Trump identified as members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua (TDA), a group he labelled as “narcoterrorists.”

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro strongly condemned the first strike, calling it illegal and accusing the U.S. of using fabricated drug trafficking claims as a cover for regime change efforts, insisting that Venezuela is free of coca cultivation and cocaine production, Xinhua news agency reported.

As of now, Venezuelan officials have not issued a statement regarding the second strike.

Maduro said at a press conference Monday that channels of communication between the United States and Venezuela have been severed by Washington.

He blamed the breakdown on "threats and blackmail" from Washington, while stressing that Venezuela has "managed to preserve peace" despite provocations from the United States.

Maduro added that Venezuela is exercising its legitimate right to defend itself against political, diplomatic and potential military aggression.

IANS inputs