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Airlines Halt Venezuela Flights as U.S. Escalates Military and Legal Pressure

Washington has moved to label the Cartel de los Soles a terrorist group, escalating pressure on Nicolás Maduro.

Overview

  • Following an FAA warning about hazards in Venezuelan airspace, six carriers—Iberia, TAP, LATAM, Avianca, GOL and Caribbean Airlines—suspended service.
  • The United States has concentrated forces in the Caribbean, including the USS Gerald R. Ford carrier group, after months of intensified anti-drug operations that have left dozens dead.
  • The State Department announced the designation of the Cartel de los Soles as a foreign terrorist organization and publicly tied Maduro and senior officials to the network.
  • Reuters, citing unnamed U.S. officials, reported that a new phase of operations is being prepared, with covert actions described as a likely initial step and timing still unclear.
  • Germany’s Foreign Office urgently advised against travel to Venezuela, warning the security situation is tense and could deteriorate quickly.