Overview

• The White House maintains an expanded naval and air presence near Venezuela, including warships, an attack submarine, surveillance aircraft and 10 F-35s deployed to Puerto Rico.
• Officials say the Sept. 2 strike that killed 11 targeted Tren de Aragua 'narcoterrorists' and cite terrorist designations to justify it, while experts and some lawmakers question the legal basis and evidence.
• Caracas has surged deployments to roughly 25,000 troops in coastal and border areas and stepped up militia mobilization, with President Nicolás Maduro warning of 'armed struggle' if attacked.
• Brazil’s President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva calls the U.S. naval buildup a 'factor of tension,' and Iran’s foreign minister voices solidarity with Venezuela, condemning threats as violations of the U.N. Charter.
• Vice President JD Vance’s defense of the killings drew a public rebuke from Republican Sen. Rand Paul as Pentagon leaders signal more strikes are possible and House members pursue oversight steps.