The US president stated that the strike resulted in 11 fatalities in “international waters.”

Secretary of State Marco Rubio referred to the “lethal strike” occurring in the “southern Caribbean” against “a drug vessel which had set sail from Venezuela”.

A senior defense official confirmed a “precision strike” on a supposed drug vessel in the southern Caribbean but provided no additional details on the operation.

CNN had previously reported that the US military was sending over 4000 Marines and sailors to the regions around Latin America and the Caribbean as part of an intensified effort to counter drug cartels, according to two US defense officials — a demonstration of force that offers the president a variety of military options should he decide to target drug cartels.

The Trump administration has pursued a vigorous strategy against Latin American drug cartels, classifying many as foreign terrorist organizations and specially designated global terrorists.

Last week, Rubio visited the headquarters of US Southern Command, which has responsibility for the deployed assets.

The top US diplomat had previously suggested that military action against the cartels was a possibility.

The robust military presence in the region has drawn heated remarks from Maduro.

The Trump administration has increased the bounty for the Venezuelan president to $US50 million ($76 million) for drug trafficking.

“It is an outrageous threat… absolutely criminal, bloody. They have wished to escalate with what they term maximum pressure, and in response to maximum military pressure, we have ensured maximum readiness,” Maduro declared, asserting that he will not “yield to threats.”