U.S. forces kill three in strike on alleged drug boat in Pacific

The U.S. military conducted another strike on an alleged drug-trafficking boat in the eastern Pacific, killing three people, U.S. Southern Command posted on X on Sunday.

Since early September, U.S. strikes in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific have killed at least 83 people in 21 attacks.

The latest strike on Saturday comes amid a major U.S. military buildup in the region. On Sunday, the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford and its carrier strike group arrived in the Caribbean Sea.

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Sunday the U.S. "may be having some discussions" with Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. Trump did not provide details but added, "Venezuela would like to talk."

Venezuela's government recently touted a "massive" mobilization of troops and civilians to defend against possible U.S. attacks.

Maduro said the U.S. government is "fabricating" a war against him. On his Facebook page, he wrote on Sunday that the "Venezuelan people are ready to defend their homeland against any criminal aggression."