Overview
- U.S. officials told reporters they were surprised by the announcement and said they were unaware of any operation to enforce a closure of Venezuelan airspace.
- Earlier this week, Trump told service members the United States would begin land operations against alleged Venezuelan drug networks "very soon."
- Following an FAA warning about a potentially hazardous situation, six major carriers suspended flights over or to Venezuela, and Caracas revoked their operating rights and condemned the U.S. move as a hostile act.
- Since September, U.S. forces have conducted more than 20 strikes on suspected drug boats in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific, with reported deaths of at least 82–83 people and mounting legal concerns from U.N. experts and rights groups.
- Washington has built up forces in the region, including the USS Gerald R. Ford carrier group, and recently designated the Cartel de los Soles as a foreign terrorist organization.