Overview
- President Trump said land attacks “are going to start happening,” framing them as operations against drug traffickers rather than strikes on Venezuela as a nation.
- Flight‑tracking data and reports showed U.S. Navy F/A‑18 Super Hornets and EA‑18G Growlers operating near La Orchila and along Venezuela’s coast this week.
- U.S. officials confirmed the interception of the tanker Skipper (formerly Adisa) off Venezuela under an FBI seizure order, with its oil to be confiscated in a U.S. port.
- Treasury’s OFAC sanctioned three nephews of Cilia Flores, an allied businessman and six Venezuela‑linked tankers/companies for deceptive shipping tied to Maduro’s network.
- Caracas denounced the moves as preparation for war, while reporting notes at least 87 deaths from U.S. maritime strikes against suspected narco‑vessels since September.