WASHINGTON, DC – US President Donald Trump has ordered attacks on targets within Venezuelaincluding militaryin an escalation of its pressure campaign on the Nicolás Maduro regime, as reported by Administration sources to CBS News.
According to these sources, the White House considered carrying out airstrikes against Venezuelan targets, including military targets, on Christmas Day, but finally decided to give priority to airstrikes in Nigeria against alleged camps of the Islamic States (IS).
After these attacks, the team Trump considered new windows of opportunity to attack strategic objectives of the Nicolás Maduro regimebut they were forced to further delays because the weather was not favorable for attacks.
Military sources indicated that the Pentagon hoped to have the most favorable weather conditions for the success of this operation, which had Trump’s approval for the past day.
Fox News also confirmed that Trump has ordered airstrikes against several targets inside Venezuela.with a greater focus on the coastal area around La Guaira, near the Maiquetía airport and in an area that includes possible key military objectives for the Maduro regime.
Maduro’s government denounces “military aggression” by the United States
The president of Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro has declared a state of external commotion throughout the national territory after denouncing a “military aggression perpetrated by the current Government of the United States” early this Saturday in Caracas and the nearby states of Miranda, Aragua and La Guaira.
In a statement, the Executive reported that the head of state “has signed and ordered the implementation of the decree that declares the state of external commotion”, in order to “protect the rights of the population, the full functioning of republican institutions and immediately move to armed struggle”.
US Air Force bans commercial flights over Venezuela
The US Air Force issued an official notice this Saturday that prohibits all aircraft from circulating through Venezuelan airspacein the midst of attacks in the capital of the South American country that the president, Donald Trump, had ordered according to CBS.
The United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) banned US commercial airliners from operating at any altitude over Venezuelan airspace, citing security risks arising from ongoing military activity in the South American country.
The notice, known as NOTAM, came into effect at 2:00 am on Saturday, local time in Venezuela, and will be valid for 23 hours. In the document, The US aeronautical authority does not specify which military forces would be involved in the operations that motivated the restriction.
News in development.
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