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Trump confirms CIA authorisation in Venezuela after US strikes on alleged drug boats

October 15, 2025

President Trump confirmed authorizing CIA covert operations in Venezuela and is considering additional military strikes targeting drug cartels. The US has already conducted at least five strikes on suspected drug vessels in the Caribbean, resulting in 27 deaths, with UN human rights experts labeling these as "extrajudicial executions. " Trump justified these actions by claiming Venezuela is emptying its prisons into the United States and trafficking drugs, as part of broader efforts to pressure President Nicolas Maduro, whom the US does not recognize as Venezuela's legitimate leader.

Who is affected

  • Venezuelan government and President Nicolas Maduro
  • People aboard vessels targeted by US strikes (27 people killed so far)
  • Drug trafficking organizations operating in Venezuela and the Caribbean
  • US military personnel deployed in the region (about 4,000 troops)
  • Venezuelan citizens concerned about possible US attacks
  • US citizens potentially affected by drugs coming from Venezuela

What action is being taken

  • CIA has been authorized to conduct covert operations inside Venezuela
  • US forces are conducting strikes on suspected drug-carrying boats in the Caribbean
  • The US is positioning significant air and naval assets in the region
  • The US is maintaining a military presence of approximately 4,000 troops in the region
  • The US is offering a $50 million bounty for Maduro

Why it matters

  • The operations represent a significant escalation in US pressure on Maduro's government
  • The strikes have resulted in multiple deaths characterized by UN experts as "extrajudicial executions"
  • These actions could increase tensions between the US and Venezuela
  • The US claims these operations are necessary to combat drug trafficking into the United States
  • The increased US military presence has raised fears in Caracas of a possible attack
  • The US has formally determined it is in a "non-international armed conflict" with drug trafficking organizations

What's next

  • No explicit next steps stated in the article, though Trump mentioned the US "is looking at land" as it considers further strikes in the region.

Read full article from source: BBC

Trump confirms CIA authorisation in Venezuela after US strikes on alleged drug boats