THE US is poised to launch “fresh operations” against Nicolas Maduro – following a stark airspace warning and a daring nuclear bomber “attack demo”.
The latest escalation between Washington and Caracas came as several major airlines cancelled flights heading to Venezuela in response to a terrifying flight alert.
White House sources said Trump was ready to launch a new phase of missions in the coming days.
They also said the US would likely use covert operations as the first part of any action taken against Maduro.
Another White House official said Trump was “not ruling anything out”.
The source said: “President Trump is prepared to use every element of American power to stop drugs from flooding into our country and to bring those responsible to justice.”
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It comes after the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a Notice to Air Missions (NOTAM) on Friday.
The dramatic alert informed pilots, airlines and air traffic controllers of a “potentially hazardous situation” in and around Venezuela.
Just hours later, it was announced a B-52 flanked by KC-135 Stratotankers and fighter jets “conducted a bomber attack demo” near Venezuela, authorities said.
The bold display of military power also included a supersonic F/A-18E fighter jet which flew from the USS Gerald Ford.
The chilling FAA notice warned of a “worsening security situation and heightened military activity in or around Venezuela”.
It read: “Threats could pose a potential risk to aircraft at all altitudes, including during overflight, the arrival and departure phases of flight, and/or airports and aircraft on the ground.”
The haunting warning came after the US president refused to rule out airstrikes on Venezuela.
Trump is currently amassing a huge military build-up near Maduro’s shores as he piles pressure on the despot to hand over power.
Washington’s war on “narco-terrorists” has also seen dozens of deadly boat blitzes on alleged drug-smuggling vessels, and thousands of marines deployed to the region.
On Friday, Washington formally declared Venezuela’s Cartel de los Soles a foreign terrorist organisation.
The move struck at the core of tyrant Maduro’s power structure and labels his inner circle as “narco-terrorists“.
By naming Cartel de los Soles an FTO, America effectively declared the Venezuelan state – or at least those who run it – a terrorist-backed narco-regime.
For the first time, the US is treating Maduro’s government not just as authoritarian or corrupt, but as a hemispheric security threat.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the cartel – run from inside the Venezuelan estate – had corrupted Venezuela’s military, intelligence, legislature, and judiciary and is headed by Maduro himself.
The designation takes effect on November 24, tightening the Trump’s campaign against the illegitimate regime it says is weaponising the state for organised crime.
The USS General R. Ford, the world’s largest aircraft carrier, has also arrived in the Caribbean in the latest show of force.
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The carrier joins a flotilla of nearly a dozen Navy ships and roughly 12,000 troops under Operation Southern Spear – the Trump administration’s sweeping campaign against what it calls “narco-terrorists” in the Western Hemisphere.
Maduro has also said he is open to holding face-to-face talks with Trump as he comes under increasing pressure to buckle.