Saturday, March 29, 2025
US Airstrikes Target Vessel in Caribbean; Venezuela Lodges Complaint at UN
Caracas/Washington, October 17, 2025 — Tensions between the United States and Venezuela have escalated sharply after an American airstrike destroyed a ship in the Caribbean Sea. The U.S. military claimed the vessel was allegedly involved in drug trafficking, while Venezuela denounced the attack as a violation of its sovereignty and lodged a formal complaint with the United Nations Security Council.
Venezuela’s Ambassador to the UN, Samuel Moncada, sent a letter demanding that the international community condemn what he called “illegal U.S. military actions” and reaffirm Venezuela’s sovereign rights.
The complaint came after President Donald Trump labeled Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro as an “illegitimate president,” stating that Maduro no longer represented the will of the Venezuelan people.
According to reports, the U.S. Air Force carried out a precision strike on a small cargo vessel suspected of smuggling narcotics. Although the crew reportedly survived, the ship was completely destroyed. The Pentagon refused to comment on the incident.
White House Press Secretary Caroline Leavitt confirmed that U.S. Navy, Marine Corps units, and nuclear submarines are now deployed across the Caribbean region as part of an “enhanced counter-narcotics and security operation.”
President Trump has suspended all diplomatic contact with Caracas, asserting that the Maduro government is operating unlawfully. “Maduro’s regime has lost the confidence of its people and continues to threaten regional stability,” Leavitt said during a press briefing.
Since September 2, 2025, Venezuela claims that five U.S. airstrikes have hit its territorial waters, killing 27 people. The Venezuelan government has accused Washington of attempting to destabilize the nation and undermine its sovereignty.
The U.S., however, maintains that the targeted vessels were involved in drug smuggling and operating outside international law.
Sources in Washington suggest that President Trump has authorized a covert CIA operation to weaken or remove Maduro from power. Though details remain classified, Venezuelan officials allege the mission poses a direct threat to Maduro’s life. Reports also indicate that the U.S. may be preparing a limited ground operation, a move widely condemned as an attempt to seize control of the country’s resources.
Meanwhile, the United Nations has urged both sides to exercise restraint and avoid any military escalation, emphasizing the need for diplomacy over conflict.
