The U.S. appears ready to initiate attacks on military installations in Venezuela, as reported by the Post. This development comes as President Trump intensifies pressure on the controversial leadership of Nicolas Maduro, aiming to disrupt his drug and criminal networks.
The planned operation could occur in a matter of days, targeting the Cartel de los Soles and military sites that safeguard Maduro’s drug trafficking. Sources familiar with discussions at the White House offered these insights, highlighting a focused effort to dismantle the cartel’s command structure.
U.S. officials have accused the Cartel de los Soles of collaborating with groups like Venezuela’s Torren de Aragua and Mexico’s Sinaloa cartel, facilitating the shipment of approximately 500 tons of cocaine into both the United States and Europe each year.
In August, Trump sent warships to the waters near Venezuela, initially deploying seven vessels with 4,500 troops. That force has since been bolstered, with around 10,000 personnel now engaged, including aircraft carriers.
White House press secretary Caroline Leavitt emphasized the administration’s commitment, stating, “The President stands ready to use every element of American power to stop the flow of drugs into our country and bring those responsible to justice,” during the announcement of the deployment.
As of Friday, U.S. forces reportedly killed around 57 suspected narco-terrorists in 13 separate strikes against at least 14 drug vessels.
While past operations have focused on drug traffickers, this latest assault aims at shaking up the cartel’s hierarchy. The Miami Herald was the first to report on this unfolding situation.
Additionally, it has been noted that B-52 bombers from the Pentagon have conducted “show of force” missions near the Venezuelan coast at least twice within the last two weeks.
It’s currently uncertain if Maduro himself is a direct target for these future attacks, though there have been indications that his time in power may be drawing to a close.
Attorney General Pam Bondi labeled Maduro as “one of the world’s biggest drug traffickers,” pointing to his substantial connections with organized crime and the associated risks to national security.
Earlier this summer, the Justice Department raised the reward for information leading to Maduro’s capture to an unprecedented $50 million—this amount now surpasses the bounty once offered for Osama bin Laden.
Other prominent figures in Maduro’s regime, like Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello and Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino López, have also been targeted with rewards reaching up to $25 million for their arrests.
