U.S. Weighs Strikes on Venezuelan Drug Targets

U.S. military officials are drawing up options to carry out strikes inside Venezuela against drug traffickers that could begin within weeks, focusing on drone strikes against traffickers, cartel leadership and drug labs. Those options have not been approved by President Donald Trump. They follow recent U.S. strikes on at least three Venezuelan boats in the past month that U.S. officials described as narco-trafficking vessels and that killed multiple people, though the administration has not provided evidence that drugs were aboard every boat. The administration has deployed additional forces to the Caribbean and says Venezuela — whose government, led by President Nicolás Maduro, denies involvement in drug trafficking — is not doing enough to stop illicit flows, while critics and rights groups warn the strikes may amount to extrajudicial killings and raise legal and escalation concerns. Reports say U.S. and Venezuelan officials have communicated via Middle Eastern intermediaries, and U.S. officials are weighing the likelihood of limited Venezuelan retaliation and domestic political pushback as they consider next steps.