The United States is planning military strikes in Venezuela against drug cartels in the coming weeks.
Donald Trump is yet to approve the actions which are in response to President Nicolas Maduro, whom the U.S. sees as illegitimate, not doing enough to stop illegal drugs from getting out of Venezuela.
It would largely consist of drone strikes against leaders and members of gangs, as well as drug labs, NBC News reports.
They follow a recent lethal strike on a vessel allegedly affiliated with a terrorist organization ‘trafficking illicit narcotics’.
The attack killed ‘three male narcoterrorists’ took place in the US Southern Command’s area of responsibility, the president said.
Trump administration officials expressed disappointment that the move and any of the recent military escalations do not appear to have weakened Maduro.
They’re also wary about further attacks after the backlash to the Venezuelan boat bomb.
The White House referred to Trump’s prior comments on the matter: ‘We’ll see what happens. Venezuela is sending us their gang members, their drug dealers and drugs. It’s not acceptable.’
Hellbound and Down 