Venezuela has condemned the United States for allegedly boarding and occupying a Venezuelan fishing boat in its exclusive economic zone, describing the action by the USS Jason Dunham destroyer as a "direct provocation" that escalates longstanding tensions between Caracas and Washington.

The Venezuelan Foreign Ministry's statement on Saturday detailed that the incident occurred Friday, when the Arleigh Burke-class destroyer intercepted a tuna fishing vessel carrying nine "humble and harmless" fishermen 48 nautical miles northeast of La Blanquilla Island.

According to the ministry, 18 armed U.S. personnel boarded the small craft and held it for eight hours, conducting a search that found no drugs or contraband before releasing it. Foreign Minister Yvan Gil called it an "illegal and hostile" use of "excessive military means," demanding the U.S. cease such operations that threaten regional peace.

A U.S. official confirmed to ABC News that the boarding was a routine counter-narcotics inspection in international waters, yielding no illicit materials, and disputed Venezuela's timeline and location claims. The Pentagon has not commented further, but the action follows heightened U.S. naval patrols in the southern Caribbean since early September, including the USS Jason Dunham's involvement in a September 1 airstrike that sank a Venezuelan speedboat, killing 11 people Washington labeled as Tren de Aragua gang members smuggling drugs.

Venezuela rejects the U.S. narrative, with Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello asserting on state TV that the victims were civilians, not traffickers, and accusing Washington of murder. White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly defended the strike, calling the deceased "evil Tren de Aragua narcoterrorists" and reiterating that President Nicolas Maduro is illegitimate—a stance shared by several nations questioning his 2024 election but unsupported by U.S. intelligence on government-trafficker links.

Last month, the U.S. doubled its bounty on Maduro to $50 million over alleged criminal ties, which Caracas denies, insisting Venezuela produces no drugs.

In response, Maduro has mobilized troops, police, and militias to 284 "battlefronts," including the Colombian border, declaring from Ciudad Caribia: "We’re ready for an armed fight, if it’s necessary." The U.S. has bolstered its presence with 10 F-35 jets in Puerto Rico and additional warships. Earlier incidents include Venezuelan F-16 flyovers of the USS Jason Dunham on September 4 and 5, which the Pentagon called provocative "games of chicken."

Legal experts question the U.S. strike's compliance with international law, including UNCLOS provisions against interfering with vessels in exclusive economic zones without cause. As rhetoric heats up, both sides maintain their patrols, raising fears of miscalculation in the oil-rich region.