The Trump administration is considering limited airstrikes on Venezuelan military facilities that U.S. officials say are used by the Cartel de los Soles, according to reporting by the Wall Street Journal and the Miami Herald. President Donald Trump said on October 31 that no final decision had been made, even as a months‑long U.S. buildup in the Caribbean has continued since January 2025.
What’s new
- The Wall Street Journal reported the administration has identified potential targets in Venezuela — ports, airfields and other military-linked facilities allegedly tied to trafficking — as part of a plan to ratchet up pressure on President Nicolás Maduro. A Miami Herald report said strikes could come within “days or even hours,” citing unnamed sources. Trump, asked the same day whether he was considering strikes on Venezuelan soil, said “No,” but he has repeatedly warned of further action against “narco‑terrorists.” (wsj.com)
- One Herald source said, “Maduro is about to find himself trapped… there is now more than one general willing to capture and hand him over,” language repeated in several summaries of the paper’s reporting. The timing and scope of any operation remain unconfirmed by the White House. (m.in.investing.com)
Designations and sanctions
- In July, the U.S. Treasury Department designated the Cartel de los Soles as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist entity, describing it as “a Venezuela‑based criminal group headed by Nicolas Maduro Moros and other high‑ranking Venezuelan individuals” that provides material support to designated terrorist organizations Tren de Aragua and the Sinaloa Cartel. Treasury also noted that the State Department designated Tren de Aragua and the Sinaloa Cartel as Foreign Terrorist Organizations in February 2025. (home.treasury.gov)
- U.S. officials cited by the Miami Herald estimate the cartel moves roughly 500 tons of cocaine annually to American and European markets, though the U.S. has not released public evidence for that figure. (m.in.investing.com)
Military buildup in the Caribbean
- Since late summer, the Pentagon has surged ships, Marines and airpower to the region. F‑35 fighters have landed in Puerto Rico, and MQ‑9 Reaper drones have been operating from the island, according to imagery and officials. The USS Gerald R. Ford carrier strike group has been ordered to Latin America, creating one of the largest U.S. deployments in the Caribbean in decades. (investing.com)
- Long‑range U.S. bombers have flown near Venezuela in recent weeks. The Pentagon described B‑52 and B‑1 flights as training missions; the flights nevertheless signaled the ability to operate close to Venezuelan air defenses, which include Russian‑made S‑300 and Igla‑S systems. (washingtonpost.com)
Policy signals and covert action
- The White House has framed the campaign as counter‑narcotics. Deputy press secretary Anna Kelly and press secretary Karoline Leavitt have said the president is prepared to use “every element of American power” to stop drugs from reaching the United States. Trump also acknowledged on October 15 that he authorized covert CIA operations in Venezuela, a disclosure that drew bipartisan concern in Congress. (newsmax.com)
Rewards and legal posture
- In August, the administration doubled the reward for information leading to Maduro’s arrest to $50 million, building on narcotics‑related charges first announced in 2020. The U.S. has also increased or offered rewards targeting leaders of other designated groups this year. (apnews.com)
Venezuelan response
- Maduro has rejected U.S. accusations and denounced the deployments as a threat. Last week, he said Venezuela possesses “more than 5,000” Russian Igla‑S surface‑to‑air missiles positioned for air defense, amid warnings that the country would mobilize if attacked. (efe.com)
Bottom line
- Multiple major outlets report that U.S. planners have drawn up target sets inside Venezuela, but the White House has not publicly authorized land strikes. The U.S. has already conducted lethal strikes on suspected drug‑running boats in nearby waters and amassed significant military power in the theater. The trajectory now depends on political decisions in Washington — and on how Caracas responds to intensifying pressure. (washingtonpost.com)