Trump Authorizes CIA to Operate Covertly in Venezuela, Escalating Military Campaign

The US government, under the Trump administration, has taken a significant step towards escalating its military campaign against Venezuela's Nicolas Maduro regime. The CIA has been authorized to take "covert action" within Venezuela, either unilaterally or as part of a larger military operation, with the aim of targeting Maduro and his government. This move comes after a series of US airstrikes against Venezuelan targets, with at least 27 people killed in recent weeks.

Key Takeaways:

• The Trump administration has authorized the CIA to operate covertly in Venezuela, granting permission for "covert action" against Maduro and his government.
• The authorization allows the CIA to take unilateral or coordinated action against Maduro, marking a significant escalation of the US military campaign against Venezuela.
• The administration has declared the US is formally engaged in an "armed conflict" with drug cartels, labeling them "unlawful combatants."
• The US has directed five airstrikes in recent weeks, targeting drug traffickers, with at least 27 people killed.
• Trump has dismissed questions about targeting Maduro directly, calling it "ridiculous," but did not explicitly rule it out.
• The CIA's covert operation in Venezuela is viewed by critics as a significant escalation of US involvement in the country's internal conflict.

Statistics:

• At least 27 people have been killed in recent weeks as a result of US airstrikes targeting drug traffickers in Venezuela.
• The US has directed five airstrikes in recent weeks against Venezuelan targets.
• The Trump administration has declared the US is formally engaged in an "armed conflict" with drug cartels.

Sources:

• Trump told reporters at the White House that he "authorized" CIA operations because Venezuela "emptied their prisons into the United States of America" and flooded the country with drugs. [1]
• A confidential notice to members of Congress declared the US is formally engaged in an "armed conflict" with drug cartels. [2]
• The administration has directed five strikes in recent weeks, killing at least 27 people, in a bombing campaign that critics argue amounts to illegal extrajudicial killings. [3]

References:

[1] White House Press Briefing, Wednesday, [4]

[2] Confidential notice to members of Congress, [5]

[3] US airstrike data, [6]

Note: [4], [5], and [6] are acknowledged source materials, but exact dates and publication details are not provided in the original text.