US preparing options for military strikes on drug targets on Venezuelan soil

U.S. military officials are finalizing plans for strikes against drug traffickers in Venezuela, with operations possibly starting within weeks, four anonymous sources—two U.S. officials and two others—disclosed. The Trump administration’s escalation targets narco-operations, bypassing diplomacy. Trump recently claimed on Truth Social that U.S. forces struck three Venezuelan boats allegedly carrying drugs and traffickers, though only one strike yielded confirmed drugs, per Dominican and U.S. Embassy officials.

The plans involve drone strikes on cartel leaders and drug labs, driven by Maduro’s inaction on drug flows, sources say. "Venezuela is sending us their gang members, their drug dealers and drugs. It’s not acceptable," Trump declared. Eight U.S. ships with 4,000 personnel and F-35 jets in Puerto Rico signal intent. "You don’t move that many resources down there without looking at all options," a source stated.

Maintaining such forces risks straining other deployments, as one source noted, "You can’t keep that kind of firepower in the Caribbean forever." Middle Eastern intermediaries relayed Maduro’s offers to stay in power, but Trump dismissed his letter as lies, with Rubio pushing regime change. A $50 million bounty for Maduro’s arrest, tied to 2020 cartel indictments, remains active.