The Trump administration has authorized the CIA to conduct lethal covert operations in Venezuela as it intensifies pressure on the Nicolas Maduro regime, according to a new report.
The New York Times detailed on Wednesday that the operations would extend elsewhere in the Caribbean, and the agency could take action against Maduro or his government, either unilaterally or as part of a larger military operation.
Officials told the outlet that the ultimate goal of the escalation is removing Maduro from power.
It is the latest of a series of escalations that have intensified over the past hours. On Tuesday, President Donald Trump announced that a fifth alleged drug boat was struck off the coast of Venezuela, killing six people and driving the total to 27.
On Wednesday, three U.S. B-52 bombers conducted a flyover off the country’s coast. One of the planes appeared to draw a penis with its flight path, according to analysts following its trajectory.
Local outlet Monitoreamos detailed that the B-52H Stratofortress, identified as BUNNY01 (61-0010), BUNNY02 (60-0052) y BUNNY03 (60-0033), stayed for a few minutes in the area.
The developments took place as the commander of the U.S. Central Command (Centcom) Alvin Holsey visits Grenada and Trinidad and Tobago, two countries geographically close to Venezuela. The armed forces are seeking to install military equipment in Grenada, located 100 miles from the South American country. Grenada has not replied to the request. Antigua and Barbuda rejected holding any military equipment from the U.S.
Despite the escalation, Venezuelan insiders have claimed that Maduro won’t relinquish power voluntarily. Speaking to Spanish outlet El Pais, one people with knowledge of the regime’s thinking said “Maduro is not going anywhere.” “Maduro has practically no other fate than resisting whatever comes and waiting for Trump to hesitate,” the person added.
Trump has anticipated the possibility of escalating the situation further with strikes inside Venezuela territory. However, the report added, the South American country’s leaders (Delcy and Jorge Rodriguez, Diosdado Cabello and Vladimir Padrino Lopez), along with Maduro, have “developed their survival instincts to the fullest after more than six years of governing in extreme situations,” and think “this storm shall pass too.”
Originally published on Latin Times
