Dec 31 U.S. military strikes three more alleged drug boats, killing 3 and possibly leaving survivors By Ben Finley, Associated Press A video posted by Southern Command on social media shows the boats traveling in a close formation, which is unusual. Continue reading
Dec 30 Watch 5:01 With strike inside Venezuela, U.S. increases pressure on Maduro regime By Nick Schifrin, Dan Sagalyn It is rare that a U.S. president would announce covert action publicly. But that is what President Trump did Monday when he acknowledged a strike on a port facility in Venezuela. Media outlets reported it was the CIA that launched… Continue watching
Dec 30 Trump says the U.S. 'hit' a coastal drug loading facility in Venezeula as tensions escalate By Michelle L. Price, Will Weissert, Associated Press The operation moves closer to shore strikes that so far have been carried out by the U.S. military in international waters in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific Ocean. Continue reading
Dec 29 Trump says U.S. 'hit' a facility along shore where alleged drug boats 'load up' By Michelle L. Price, Will Weissert, Associated Press When questioned Monday by reporters about “an explosion in Venezuela,” the president said the U.S. struck a facility where boats accused of carrying drugs “load up.”… Continue reading
Dec 21 Watch 5:39 U.S. Coast Guard ramps up oil tanker interceptions off Venezuelan coast By John Yang, Andrew Corkery Trump’s pressure on Venezuelan President Maduro mounted Sunday as the Coast Guard went after another oil tanker that U.S. officials accused of helping Venezuela circumvent sanctions. Last week, Trump announced a “total and complete blockade of all sanctioned tankers heading… Continue watching
Dec 21 Coast Guard pursuing another tanker helping Venezuela skirt oil sanctions, U.S. official says By Aamer Madhani, Associated Press The U.S. Coast Guard on Sunday was pursuing another sanctioned oil tanker in the Caribbean Sea as the Trump administration appeared to be intensifying its targeting of such vessels connected to Venezuelan government. Continue reading
Dec 20 U.S. forces stop 2nd oil tanker off Venezuelan coast as Trump follows up on 'blockade' promise By Konstantin Toropin, Aamer Madhani, Associated Press Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem confirmed that the U.S. Coast Guard with help from the Defense Department stopped the oil tanker that was last docked in Venezuela. Continue reading
Dec 19 Trump's blockade of sanctioned Venezuelan oil raises new questions about legality By Ben Finley, Eric Tucker, Kevin Freking, Joshua Goodman, Associated Press Some experts say seizing sanctioned oil tied to leader Nicolás Maduro could provoke a military response from Venezuela, engaging American forces in a new level of conflict that goes beyond their attacks on alleged drug boats. Continue reading
Dec 18 Watch 6:06 Venezuela oil blockade could have 'chilling effect' on Maduro, ex-ambassador says By Geoff Bennett, Dan Sagalyn For weeks, the Trump administration has been escalating pressure on Venezuela and the government of Nicolás Maduro. Wednesday night, we heard from a critic of the approach. For a different perspective, Geoff Bennett spoke with Jimmy Story. He spent 25… Continue watching
Dec 17 WATCH: 'We want it back': Trump demands Venezuela return 'land, oil rights' to U.S. By Associated Press Under Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro’s predecessor, Hugo Chavez, the Venezuelan government seized assets from some American oil companies after the country nationalized oil fields in 2007. Trump on Wednesday stated that his intention is “getting land, oil rights, whatever we… Continue reading