The U.S. military on Tuesday, conducted a precision strike in the southern Caribbean against a vessel that had departed from Venezuela and was allegedly operated by the Tren de Aragua gang, a transnational criminal organization designated as a Foreign Terrorist Organization by the U.S. government.

President Donald Trump announced the operation on Truth Social, stating that 11 individuals, whom he referred to as "narcoterrorists" or "terrorists," were killed in the strike while the boat was transporting illegal narcotics in international waters. The strike was described as a "kinetic" operation carried out in the U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) area of responsibility.

The U.S. military confirmed a "precision strike" against the vessel. Trump shared a 29-second video clip on Truth Social showing a small, multi-engine speedboat traveling at sea before a bright flash and flames engulfed it. The video is largely in black and white, and Venezuela's Communications Minister Freddy Ñáñez falsely suggested it was artificially generated.

No U.S. military personnel were injured in the operation Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed the "lethal strike" on X stating it targeted a drug vessel operated by a designated narco-terrorist organization.

The Tren de Aragua gang originated over a decade ago within the notoriously violent prison system of Venezuela's Aragua state. It has since expanded its operations across Latin America, including to Chile, Colombia, and the United States, where it is involved in drug smuggling, kidnapping, extortion, sex trafficking, and acts of extreme violence such as beheadings.

The Biden administration designated it a transnational crime organization in 2024. President Trump, upon returning to office, escalated the designation, formally declaring Tren de Aragua a "Foreign Terrorist Organization" in February 2025, a move that is unusual for a criminal gang.

The strike on the vessel occurred amid a significant U.S. military deployment in the southern Caribbean. In recent weeks, the U.S. has sent at least seven warships, including the nuclear-powered submarine USS Virginia, and over 4,500 Marines and sailors to the region.

This build-up, which includes Aegis guided-missile destroyers like the USS Gravely and USS Jason Dunham, is part of the Trump administration's broader strategy to combat drug trafficking from Latin America. The administration has also increased surveillance flights with P-8 spy planes over international waters.

The deployment has been met with strong condemnation from Venezuela, with President Nicolás Maduro calling it an "extravagant, unjustifiable, immoral and absolutely criminal and bloody threat" and vowing to "declare a republic in arms" if attacked. Maduro has ordered troops to the border with Colombia and urged civilians to join militias in response.

The strike represents a dramatic escalation in the U.S. approach to drug cartels, signaling a willingness to use military force in the Americas.

The U.S. has also offered a $50 million reward for information leading to Maduro's arrest on drug-trafficking charges. Despite the military action, the administration has not signaled plans for a land invasion of Venezuela.

SpaceX's Dragon cargo spacecraft (C211) on Wednesday Sept. 3 at about 1815 UTC, successfully completed its first test burn to demonstrate a new capability to help maintain the International Space Station's (ISS) orbital altitude.

This initial maneuver, lasting five minutes and three seconds, used two Draco engines located in the Dragon's trunk to raise the station's orbit by approximately one mile at its lowest point, positioning it in a 420 x 412-kilometer orbit.

The boost kit is expected to provide about a quarter of the propulsion needed annually to maintain the ISS's 418-kilometer-high orbit.

The new capability is enabled by an add-on "boost kit" installed in the Dragon's open-to-space aft trunk section.

This kit includes two Draco engines, six propellant tanks, and a helium pressurization system, forming an independent propellant system separate from the spacecraft's main systems. This hardware allows the Dragon to perform reboosts, a task traditionally handled by Russia's Progress vehicles.

This capability, introduced on the SpaceX CRS-33 mission, is part of NASA's strategy to reduce reliance on Russian vehicles and build fuel reserves for the station's eventual controlled deorbit, a process that will be managed by a future SpaceX-built deorbit vehicle. The Dragon's ability to perform these burns is a significant step towards the station's long-term operations and safe retirement.

This test marks the beginning of a series of planned burns throughout the fall of 2025 to sustain the station's altitude.

Burkina Faso's transitional parliament has unanimously passed a bill banning homosexual acts, a move that marks a significant shift in the country's stance on LGBTQ+ degeneracy. The legislation is now awaiting the signature of military leader Captain Ibrahim Traoré, who came to power in 2022.

The legislation criminalizes "homosexual practices," with penalties including a prison sentence of two to five years and fines foreign nationals convicted of such acts face deportation, especially for repeat offenses.

This passage of the legislation aligns with a broader crackdown on LGBTQ+ relationships across the Sahel region. Neighboring Mali, also adopted similar legislation the previous year.

Unlike many former British colonies in Africa, Burkina Faso did not inherit anti-homosexuality laws after gaining independence from France in 1960. It was previously one of only 22 out of 54 African countries where same-sex relations were not criminalized. The draft of the amended family code was adopted by the cabinet over a year ago.

The legislation has been framed by Burkina Faso officials as a measure to uphold "marriage and family values." However it has sparked left-wing backlash, echoing their criticisms against countries like Uganda and Nigeria, where tough anti-LGBTQ+ laws have been enacted.

Conservatives across the globe praised the legislation as another step towards defeating left-wing globalists who promote LGBTQ degeneracy.