{"id":249711,"date":"2025-09-12T17:43:29","date_gmt":"2025-09-12T21:43:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/?p=249711"},"modified":"2025-09-12T17:43:30","modified_gmt":"2025-09-12T21:43:30","slug":"vessel-struck-by-us-military-off-venezuela-was-heading-back-to-shore-ap-sources-say","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/vessel-struck-by-us-military-off-venezuela-was-heading-back-to-shore-ap-sources-say\/","title":{"rendered":"Vessel struck by US military off Venezuela was heading back to shore, AP sources say"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"antig-23027428\" class=\"antig-ecab antig-entity-placement\"><a href=\"https:\/\/discoverflow.co\/web\/antigua\" aria-label=\"ANU CVP Digital Broadband 1200x400_1\"><img src=\"https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:1201\/h:401\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/ANU-CVP-Digital-Broadband-1200x400_1-1.jpg\" alt=\"\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:1201\/h:401\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/ANU-CVP-Digital-Broadband-1200x400_1-1.jpg 1201w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:300\/h:100\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/ANU-CVP-Digital-Broadband-1200x400_1-1.jpg 300w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:1024\/h:342\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/ANU-CVP-Digital-Broadband-1200x400_1-1.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:768\/h:256\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/ANU-CVP-Digital-Broadband-1200x400_1-1.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 696px) 100vw, 696px\" width=\"1201\" height=\"401\"   \/><\/a><\/div><div id=\"antig-3910985332\" class=\"antig-before-content antig-entity-placement\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/medicalbenefitsscheme\" aria-label=\"ce741a73-c70c-446b-af7f-da2abe2b62bb\"><img src=\"https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:1200\/h:400\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/ce741a73-c70c-446b-af7f-da2abe2b62bb.jpeg\" alt=\"\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:1200\/h:400\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/ce741a73-c70c-446b-af7f-da2abe2b62bb.jpeg 1200w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:300\/h:100\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/ce741a73-c70c-446b-af7f-da2abe2b62bb.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:1024\/h:341\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/ce741a73-c70c-446b-af7f-da2abe2b62bb.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:768\/h:256\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/ce741a73-c70c-446b-af7f-da2abe2b62bb.jpeg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 696px) 100vw, 696px\" width=\"1200\" height=\"400\"   \/><\/a><\/div>\n<p>(AP) \u2014 The U.S.&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/venezuela-strike-rubio-trump-0f901b2a30ee20e314bcab1385ffb0c0\">military strike<\/a>&nbsp;on what the Trump administration says was a drug-carrying speedboat from&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/trump-venezuela-destroyers-maduro-drug-cartels-9649e8282c061d9dad41a5dfb54431d4\">Venezuela<\/a>&nbsp;came after the vessel had turned around and was heading back to shore, raising fresh questions as&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/trump-military-strike-venezuela-drug-cartels-congress-4163da47013db5d188944f7d29e68b56\">members of Congress<\/a>&nbsp;are demanding more information about the provocative attack.<\/p><div id=\"antig-2181576723\" class=\"antig-content_5 antig-entity-placement\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/ablpag\" aria-label=\"Full-ABLP-Team-Digital-Billboard-1920x1080px\"><img src=\"https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:1920\/h:1080\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Full-ABLP-Team-Digital-Billboard-1920x1080px.jpg\" alt=\"\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:1920\/h:1080\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Full-ABLP-Team-Digital-Billboard-1920x1080px.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:300\/h:169\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Full-ABLP-Team-Digital-Billboard-1920x1080px.jpg 300w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:1024\/h:576\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Full-ABLP-Team-Digital-Billboard-1920x1080px.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:768\/h:432\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Full-ABLP-Team-Digital-Billboard-1920x1080px.jpg 768w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:1536\/h:864\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Full-ABLP-Team-Digital-Billboard-1920x1080px.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 696px) 100vw, 696px\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1080\"   \/><\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>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&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/tren-de-aragua-gang-venezuela-trump-40ec0390047c2b17e961dd029da02e65\">Tren de Aragua gang<\/a>&nbsp;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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>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\u2019s 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.<\/p><div id=\"antig-2911932281\" class=\"antig-content_4 antig-entity-placement\"><a href=\"https:\/\/discoverflow.co\/web\/antigua\" aria-label=\"ANU CVP Digital Broadband 1200x400_1\"><img src=\"https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:1201\/h:401\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/ANU-CVP-Digital-Broadband-1200x400_1-1.jpg\" alt=\"\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:1201\/h:401\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/ANU-CVP-Digital-Broadband-1200x400_1-1.jpg 1201w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:300\/h:100\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/ANU-CVP-Digital-Broadband-1200x400_1-1.jpg 300w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:1024\/h:342\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/ANU-CVP-Digital-Broadband-1200x400_1-1.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:768\/h:256\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/ANU-CVP-Digital-Broadband-1200x400_1-1.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 696px) 100vw, 696px\" width=\"1201\" height=\"401\"   \/><\/a><\/div><div id=\"antig-1205442795\" class=\"antig-content_12 antig-entity-placement\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/ablpag\" aria-label=\"IMG_0979\"><img src=\"https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:883\/h:1080\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/IMG_0979.jpg\" alt=\"\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:883\/h:1080\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/IMG_0979.jpg 1047w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:245\/h:300\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/IMG_0979.jpg 245w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:838\/h:1024\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/IMG_0979.jpg 838w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:768\/h:939\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/IMG_0979.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 696px) 100vw, 696px\" width=\"1047\" height=\"1280\"   \/><\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-democrats-contest-legal-reasoning-for-the-strike\">Democrats contest legal reasoning for the strike<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>In a letter to the White House, Sen. Tim Kaine of Virginia and two dozen other Democratic senators said the Trump administration has provided \u201cno legitimate legal justification\u201d for the strike.<\/p><div id=\"antig-3612560358\" class=\"antig-content antig-entity-placement\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.antiguabarbudaculinarymonth.com\/\" aria-label=\"culinary\"><img src=\"https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:1920\/h:843\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/culinary-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:1920\/h:843\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/culinary-scaled.jpg 2560w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:300\/h:132\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/culinary-scaled.jpg 300w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:1024\/h:450\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/culinary-scaled.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:768\/h:337\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/culinary-scaled.jpg 768w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:1536\/h:675\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/culinary-scaled.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:1920\/h:842\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/culinary-scaled.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 696px) 100vw, 696px\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1124\"   \/><\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Senators are demanding more information from the administration on the situation and use of U.S. military power.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cOur armed forces are not law enforcement agencies,\u201d said Sen. Jack Reed of Rhode Island, the top Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, in a floor speech this week.<\/p><div id=\"antig-1370997200\" class=\"antig-content_2 antig-entity-placement\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.courts.com\/antigua\/\" aria-label=\"IMG_0783\"><img src=\"https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:500\/h:500\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/IMG_0783.png\" alt=\"\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:500\/h:500\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/IMG_0783.png 500w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:300\/h:300\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/IMG_0783.png 300w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:150\/h:150\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/IMG_0783.png 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" width=\"500\" height=\"500\"   \/><\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThey are not empowered to hunt down suspected criminals and kill them without trial,\u201d Reed said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Trump administration has claimed self-defense as a legal justification for the strike, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio arguing the drug cartels&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/rubio-venezuela-maduro-drug-cartels-b33769bb581454eb8cf5cdf365d5f0c8\">\u201cpose an immediate threat\u201d<\/a>&nbsp;to the nation. The U.S., which has designated Tren de Aragua as a terrorist organization, has indicated&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/trump-venezuela-military-strike-drug-cartels-maduro-eae4f38deb40cb8ce70521c22282e469\">more military strikes on drug targets could be coming<\/a>&nbsp;as it seeks to \u201cwage war\u201d on cartels.<\/p><div id=\"antig-2036349493\" class=\"antig-content_3 antig-entity-placement\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.courts.com\/antigua\/\" aria-label=\"1000436969\"><img src=\"https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:864\/h:1080\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1000436969.jpg\" alt=\"\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:864\/h:1080\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1000436969.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:240\/h:300\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1000436969.jpg 240w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:819\/h:1024\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1000436969.jpg 819w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:768\/h:960\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1000436969.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 696px) 100vw, 696px\" width=\"1080\" height=\"1350\"   \/><\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThe President acted in line with the laws of armed conflict to protect our country from those trying to bring poison to our shores,\u201d White House spokesperson Anna Kelly said in a statement. \u201cHe is delivering on his promise to take on the cartels and eliminate these national security threats from murdering more Americans.\u201d<\/p><div id=\"antig-3563984019\" class=\"antig-content_6 antig-entity-placement\"><a href=\"https:\/\/discoverflow.co\/web\/antigua\" aria-label=\"ANU CVP Digital Broadband 1200x400_1\"><img src=\"https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:1201\/h:401\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/ANU-CVP-Digital-Broadband-1200x400_1-1.jpg\" alt=\"\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:1201\/h:401\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/ANU-CVP-Digital-Broadband-1200x400_1-1.jpg 1201w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:300\/h:100\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/ANU-CVP-Digital-Broadband-1200x400_1-1.jpg 300w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:1024\/h:342\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/ANU-CVP-Digital-Broadband-1200x400_1-1.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:768\/h:256\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/ANU-CVP-Digital-Broadband-1200x400_1-1.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 696px) 100vw, 696px\" width=\"1201\" height=\"401\"   \/><\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>She said that \u201cit\u2019s bizarre that anyone is running cover for evil Tren de Aragua narcoterrorists trying to poison our homeland as over 100,000 Americans die from overdoses every year.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Pentagon added that drug cartels will find \u201cno safe harbor.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThis strike sent a clear message: If you traffic drugs toward our shores, the United States military will use every tool at our disposal to stop you cold,\u201c chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Reed said in his speech that the administration has offered \u201cno proof that this vessel was engaged in an attack, or even that it was engaged in drug trafficking at the time.\u201d He also said the administration has provided \u201cno positive identification that the boat was Venezuelan, nor that its crew were members of Tren de Aragua or any other cartel.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-officials-signal-the-military-is-able-to-launch-more-strikes\">Officials signal the military is able to launch more strikes<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It was unclear what the national security officials disclosed in their Hill briefing about the identities of those who were on the boat and the administration\u2019s evidence that they were gang members. One of the people familiar with the situation said some of those on the boat were affiliated, but not members, of Tren de Aragua.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It also was not unclear if the national security officials provided information on the boat\u2019s destination and if it was, in fact, carrying drugs. They did indicate the Pentagon has the ability to conduct additional military strikes in the region, the people familiar with the matter said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Democratic senators have argued that Congress has not authorized the use of military force for this purpose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWe assert that Congress made no declaration of war nor did it authorize the use of military force for future similar operations,\u201d the Democratic senators wrote in the letter to the president.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Sen. Rand Raul, R-Ky., has said it was unlikely the boat was headed to U.S. shores, which would be a lengthy trip for such a vessel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Paul \u2014 a libertarian-leaning Republican with a long history of challenging executive overreach, particularly in national security matters \u2014 has argued the U.S. can\u2019t simply kill people suspected of wrongdoing without due process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-venezuela-accuses-the-us-of-murder\">Venezuela accuses the US of murder<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>In Venezuela, Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello on Thursday accused the U.S. government of murder, characterized its version of events as \u201ca tremendous lie\u201d and questioned how the people on board the targeted vessel were linked to the gang.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cAnd how did they identify them as members of the Tren de Aragua? Did they have, I don\u2019t know, a chip? Did they have a QR code and (the U.S. military) read it from above in the dark?\u201d Cabello said. \u201cThey openly confessed to murdering 11 people.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Cabello said Venezuelan authorities are investigating the strike but did not provide any details.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Cabello also rejected the U.S. government\u2019s assertion that the targeted vessel was carrying 11 people and drugs, explaining that the video released by the White House last week appeared to show a type of small fishing boat known as a \u201cpe\u00f1ero\u201d in Venezuela.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cIf you put 11 people on that pe\u00f1ero, there\u2019s no room for anything else because when those pe\u00f1eros go to sea, the fishermen have to carry gasoline for the return trip so as not to be left adrift,\u201d Cabello said during a meeting of ruling-party members.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>___<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Garcia Cano reported from Caracas, Venezuela.<\/p>\n<div id=\"antig-2481205990\" class=\"antig-in-comments_2 antig-entity-placement\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/@hadeedmotorsltd\" aria-label=\"Hadeed_WEB_Banner_MG-2\"><img src=\"https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:1000\/h:250\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Hadeed_WEB_Banner_MG-2.png\" alt=\"\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:1000\/h:250\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Hadeed_WEB_Banner_MG-2.png 1000w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:300\/h:75\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Hadeed_WEB_Banner_MG-2.png 300w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:768\/h:192\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Hadeed_WEB_Banner_MG-2.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 696px) 100vw, 696px\" width=\"1000\" height=\"250\"   \/><\/a><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>(AP) \u2014 The U.S.&nbsp;military strike&nbsp;on what the Trump administration says was a drug-carrying speedboat from&nbsp;Venezuela&nbsp;came after the vessel had turned around and was heading back to shore, raising fresh questions as&nbsp;members of Congress&nbsp;are demanding more information about the provocative attack. National security officials acknowledged during a closed briefing this week on Capitol Hill that the [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":248432,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-249711","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v24.1 (Yoast SEO v24.1) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Vessel struck by US military off Venezuela was heading back to shore, AP sources say - Antigua News Room<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/vessel-struck-by-us-military-off-venezuela-was-heading-back-to-shore-ap-sources-say\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Vessel struck by US military off Venezuela was heading back to shore, AP sources say\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"(AP) \u2014 The U.S.&nbsp;military strike&nbsp;on what the Trump administration says was a drug-carrying speedboat from&nbsp;Venezuela&nbsp;came after the vessel had turned around and was heading back to shore, raising fresh questions as&nbsp;members of Congress&nbsp;are demanding more information about the provocative attack. 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