WSJ: U.S. Preparing Strikes on Venezuelan Military Targets

The administration of Donald Trump has identified military targets in Venezuela that are used for drug trafficking.

The Wall Street Journal reported on this, citing its sources.

According to U.S. officials familiar with the matter, if the U.S. President decides to proceed with airstrikes, these targets will send a clear signal to Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro that it is time for him to step down.

Although Trump has not yet made a final decision on ordering strikes on ground targets, officials said that the potential air campaign would focus on targets linked to drug cartels and the Maduro regime.

According to one of the officials, the potential targets under consideration include ports and airports controlled by the military that are allegedly used for drug trafficking – in particular, naval facilities and airstrips.

The publication notes that airstrikes on targets in Venezuela would mark a significant escalation of a campaign that has so far been limited to destroying boats allegedly carrying drugs in the Caribbean and the eastern Pacific.

Last week, the U.S. Secretary of Defense ordered a carrier strike group led by the world’s largest aircraft carrier, Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78), to deploy to the area of responsibility of the U.S. Southern Command (USSOUTHCOM) to combat “narcoterrorism.”

The area of responsibility of USSOUTHCOM covers the land portion of Latin America south of Mexico, the waters adjacent to Central and South America, as well as the Caribbean Sea.

It should be recalled that in early October, Donald Trump announced operations against drug cartels on land.