**US Strikes Fifth Vessel Off Venezuelan Coast, Killing Six**
*By Snehil Singh | Oct 15, 2025, 12:31 PM*
The United States has struck another vessel off the Venezuelan coast, resulting in the deaths of six people. This marks the fifth such incident since September, occurring amid President Donald Trump’s intensified war on drugs.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump alleged that the targeted vessel belonged to “narcoterrorists” involved in trafficking narcotics. He also shared an aerial surveillance video showing the moment of impact.
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### Escalation of Conflict
The Pentagon has classified the suspected smugglers as “unlawful combatants,” labeling them as non-state armed groups and terrorist organizations. This designation follows a leaked memo to Congress, which stated that the U.S. is engaged in a “non-international armed conflict” with drug cartels.
The memo also highlighted ongoing tensions with Venezuela, including accusations against President Nicolás Maduro, who has been accused of facilitating drug trafficking operations.
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### Legal and Political Concerns
The U.S. government positions these strikes as acts of self-defense against drug traffickers. However, legal experts have raised concerns about the legitimacy of such military actions in international waters.
Critics argue that these operations could form part of a broader political strategy aimed at exerting military pressure on Maduro’s government. Notably, the strikes follow the U.S. announcement of a $50 million reward for information leading to Maduro’s arrest on drug-trafficking charges.
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### Rising Diplomatic Tensions
Venezuela has strongly condemned the U.S. strikes, with President Maduro denying any involvement in drug trafficking. Maduro has also threatened to declare a state of emergency if the country were to face military attacks from the U.S.
Diplomatic relations between the two nations have deteriorated significantly since President Trump authorized military actions against suspected drug boats linked to Venezuelan gang members.
https://www.newsbytesapp.com/news/world/us-military-kills-6-people-in-5th-caribbean-strike-trump/story
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