Articles in this Cluster
16-12-2025
The US military has carried out strikes on three boats in the Pacific Ocean, killing eight people, as part of President Donald Trump's campaign against drug trafficking. The strikes have raised concerns among experts about potential violations of laws governing armed conflict, with some describing the second strike on a Venezuelan drug boat as an extrajudicial killing. The US has intensified its efforts to isolate Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, accusing him of funnelling narcotics into the US. Venezuela has denied these allegations and accused the US of seeking to steal its energy resources.
Entities: US military, Pacific Ocean, Donald Trump, Venezuela, Nicolas Maduro • Tone: neutral • Sentiment: negative • Intent: inform
16-12-2025
The U.S. military has struck three alleged drug-carrying boats in the Eastern Pacific, killing eight men, as part of a campaign ordered by the Trump administration. The strikes are part of a broader effort to combat drug cartels, which the administration has designated as terror groups. The campaign has been met with controversy, with some lawmakers questioning the legal authority for the strikes and the evidence supporting the targeting of the boats. The strikes are also part of a larger U.S. military buildup in the region, with several naval vessels and fighter jets deployed to the Caribbean and Latin America. The Venezuelan government has criticized the boat strikes, accusing the Trump administration of seeking regime change.
Entities: U.S. military, Trump administration, Eastern Pacific, Pete Hegseth, Southern Command • Tone: neutral • Sentiment: negative • Intent: inform
16-12-2025
The US military conducted strikes against three alleged drug-trafficking boats in the eastern Pacific Ocean on December 15, 2025, killing 8 people, as part of Operation Southern Spear. The strikes were carried out at the direction of Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and are part of a campaign aimed at curtailing narcotics trafficking. The Trump administration has told Congress that the US is in an 'armed conflict' against drug cartels, which has raised questions and concerns among lawmakers and legal experts. The strikes have resulted in at least 95 deaths and have been carried out primarily using MQ-9 Reaper drones. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer has announced an all-senators briefing on the strikes, featuring Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
Entities: US military, Pacific Ocean, Pete Hegseth, US Southern Command, Designated Terrorist Organizations • Tone: neutral • Sentiment: negative • Intent: inform
16-12-2025
A JetBlue passenger plane had a near-miss with a US Air Force aircraft near Venezuela while flying from Curacao to New York. The US Air Force plane was flying with its transponder turned off, prompting the JetBlue pilot to describe the incident as 'outrageous'. The incident has been reported to federal authorities, and both JetBlue and the US Southern Command are reviewing the matter. The close call occurred amid heightened tensions between the US and Venezuela, with the US increasing its military presence in the region.
Entities: JetBlue, US Air Force, Venezuela, Curacao, New York • Tone: neutral • Sentiment: negative • Intent: inform
16-12-2025
The U.S. military conducted three strikes on boats in the eastern Pacific on Monday, killing eight people suspected of carrying drugs. This brings the total number of people killed to at least 95 since the Trump administration's military campaign against such vessels began in September. The strikes have drawn criticism from legal experts and some members of Congress, who argue that the killing of unarmed civilians breaches the laws of war. The administration has shown no signs of halting the attacks despite intense congressional scrutiny.
Entities: U.S. military, Eastern Pacific, Trump administration, U.S. Southern Command, Caribbean Sea • Tone: neutral • Sentiment: negative • Intent: inform
16-12-2025
US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order declaring fentanyl a weapon of mass destruction, escalating the US government's war on drugs. The designation empowers the Pentagon to assist law enforcement and allows intelligence agencies to deploy against drug traffickers. Trump has repeatedly threatened military action against countries he believes are involved in drug trafficking, including Venezuela, Colombia, and Mexico. The move is part of a broader strategy to reassert US dominance in the Western Hemisphere. Critics have questioned the legality of the US military's recent strikes on suspected drug vessels, which have killed over 80 people.
Entities: Donald Trump, US, Pentagon, Mexico, Venezuela • Tone: neutral • Sentiment: negative • Intent: inform
16-12-2025
The US military has launched a series of strikes on three boats in the eastern Pacific, killing eight people suspected of narco-trafficking. The US Southern Command posted footage of the strikes on social media, claiming the vessels were transiting along known narco-trafficking routes. The strikes are part of Donald Trump's escalating campaign against drug trafficking in the region, with over 20 vessels struck and at least 90 suspected drug smugglers killed. The use of military force to attack suspected drug vessels has raised concerns among legal experts, who argue that it amounts to unlawful extrajudicial killings. The Trump administration has defended the legality of the strikes, citing compliance with the law of armed conflict.
Entities: US military, US Southern Command, Eastern Pacific, Donald Trump, Venezuela • Tone: neutral • Sentiment: negative • Intent: inform
