Venezuela detects five combat planes detected near coast in "provocation"

Oct 2 (Reuters) - Venezuela's Defense Minister General Vladimir Padrino said on Thursday that five combat planes had been detected near country's coast, in what he characterized as a threat by the United States.

"They are imperialist combat planes that have dared to come close to the Venezuelan coast" Padrino said at an air base, in comments broadcast on state television, saying information about the planes had been reported to a control tower by an airline. "The presence of these planes flying close to our Caribbean Sea is a vulgarity, a provocation, a threat to the security of the nation."

The U.S. has deployed a fleet of warships through the Caribbean, which Washington says is to combat drug trafficking, and has also struck several boats it claims were carrying drugs from Venezuela, killing those aboard. Experts have questioned the legality of the strikes.