US media reported on Friday, October 31, that sources close to the Donald Trump administration confirmed that Washington was preparing to bomb military installations and other targets inside Venezuela.
In previous days, that country's intention to carry out ground operations had been confirmed. However, this would represent a major escalation in tensions between the two countries and would mark a continuation of the pressure against the Nicolás Maduro regime. The military action on the territory has been condemned by the UN, which has described the attacks on boats as"extrajudicial executions."
What is known about alleged US attacks on Venezuelan military bases
Two US media outlets referenced the information. One of them, the Miami Herald, stated that the attacks would be by air and could occur"in a matter of days or even hours" within Venezuelan territory.
This would be motivated by "initiating the next stage of their campaign against the Cartel of the Suns," a criminal organization whose leader, according to the North American country, is the leader of the Venezuelan regime, Nicolás Maduro."Sources told the Herald that the objectives are focused on decapitating the cartel's hierarchy," the outlet added.
However, he specified that the sources consulted"refused to determine whether Maduro himself is one of the targets", although one of them stated that"his time is running out" and that "now there is more than one general willing to capture him and hand him over."
The Wall Street Journal, for its part, reported that the decision is being evaluated, but that"the president has not made a final decision on ordering ground bombings." Despite this, the"potential air campaign" would be focused on attacking, according to the newspaper,"targets that are linked to drug gangs and the Nicolás Maduro regime."
Furthermore, the New York media outlet asserted that the targets they would consider attacking include"ports and airports controlled by the Military Force" and that "they are allegedly being used to traffic drugs, including naval facilities and airstrips."
This revelation comes a few days after the AP published information about the contacts between U.S. Homeland Security Investigations agent Edwin Lozano and the pilot who, on several occasions, flew Nicolás Maduro to countries such as Iran, Cuba, and Russia. According to the plan, the agent spoke with the pilot in Santo Domingo, offering him the opportunity to become"a very rich man" if he could "divert the president's flight to a place where he could be captured by U.S. authorities."
The talks and decisions reportedly being made at the White House regarding airstrikes on military bases in Venezuelan territory would mark a major escalation in tensions between the two countries. So far, operations by the Venezuelan Armed Forces have resulted in approximately 61 deaths and 3 survivors from bombings of boats in the Pacific and the Caribbean.
