Senators Press SOUTHCOM Nominee on Trump’s Expanded Latin America Operations After Maduro Raid
At his confirmation hearing, Marine Lt. Gen. Francis Donovan — President Trump’s nominee to lead U.S. Southern Command — was repeatedly pressed by senators about the rapid expansion of U.S. operations in Latin America after months of maritime strikes and the recent raid that captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro; Donovan said he is prepared to oversee a larger SOUTHCOM footprint but did not know the administration’s long‑term plan or how long the buildup would last. Lawmakers from both parties voiced legal and oversight concerns — citing the lethal boat‑strike campaign, a CIA drone dock strike, a multi‑ship and troop deployment, and questions over War Powers and allied intelligence sharing — while signaling they expect to move toward confirmation but want greater transparency.
📌 Key Facts
- Since early September the U.S. has waged Operation Southern Spear — a months‑long campaign of lethal maritime strikes on suspected drug boats in Caribbean and eastern Pacific routes — totaling about 35 known strikes and at least 115 people killed (Trump administration figures); the campaign is legally framed by officials as a "non‑international armed conflict" with cartels while critics and legal experts call the strikes extrajudicial and potentially war crimes.
- The campaign expanded beyond ship strikes: U.S. intelligence and military elements (and a CIA drone) carried out strikes on a Venezuelan docking area, and on Jan. 3, 2026 U.S. forces conducted large airstrikes and a nighttime extraction operation in Caracas; President Trump announced Nicolás Maduro and his wife had been captured and flown to the United States.
- Maduro and Cilia Flores were brought to U.S. custody, face newly unsealed or updated indictments in the Southern District of New York on narco‑terrorism and related charges, appeared in federal court and pleaded not guilty.
- The U.S. deployed a substantial regional force: more than 15,000 troops, around a dozen warships (including the carrier USS Gerald R. Ford), and scores of aircraft and drones (officials cite 150+ airframes involved in the Jan. 3 strikes); the administration also ordered measures to quarantine or block sanctioned Venezuelan oil shipments and secured expanded basing/refueling access in the Dominican Republic.
- Reported human costs and injuries are contested: the maritime campaign has killed scores (administration tallies at least 115); Venezuelan authorities reported dozens to roughly 40–100 killed in the Caracas raid and listed military and allied casualties; U.S. officials say no American service members were killed but several were wounded during the operation.
- U.S. Coast Guard interdictions and seizures have continued alongside the military campaign (seizure rates broadly unchanged); critics note a DOJ shift away from prosecuting low‑level maritime offenders and warn that killing rather than arresting suspects undermines intelligence collection — controversies intensified after follow‑on strikes that killed survivors and protracted, difficult search‑and‑rescue efforts.
- The operations provoked wide regional and international reaction: Russia, Iran, Cuba, Brazil, Mexico and others condemned the strikes and Maduro capture; the U.K. suspended some intelligence‑sharing and several European leaders urged respect for international law even while some countries limited criticism; Colombia halted intelligence cooperation under President Gustavo Petro, while the Dominican Republic increased operational support to the U.S.
- Congressional and legal scrutiny escalated: Democrats and some Republicans questioned whether the raids and Maduro capture had proper War Powers or statutory authorization, pushed for hearings and votes, and advanced a War Powers resolution limiting further strikes; Senate hearings for the nominee to lead U.S. Southern Command (Lt. Gen. Francis Donovan) highlighted lawmakers' concerns that senior commanders lack clarity on the administration's long‑term plan for the expanded U.S. presence in the hemisphere.
📊 Relevant Data
The U.S. military operation to capture Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro in 2026 has a close historical parallel to the 1989 U.S. invasion of Panama, where the United States captured Panamanian dictator Manuel Noriega and put him on trial for drug trafficking and money laundering.
Making sense of the US military operation in Venezuela — Brookings
Venezuela has experienced a significant brain drain, with professional medical associations estimating that at least 20,000 health professionals have left the country in recent years, contributing to a lack of skilled labor.
Economy crisis: Venezuela's brain drain is accelerating — ResearchGate
U.S. sanctions imposed on Venezuela since 2017 have been associated with reduced public caloric intake, increased disease and mortality rates for adults and infants, and the displacement of millions of Venezuelans.
Impact of the 2017 sanctions on Venezuela — Brookings Institution
U.S. military strikes on alleged drug targets in the Western Hemisphere, as part of operations like Southern Spear, make little or no difference to the overall drug trade according to analyses.
Facts to Inform the Debate about the U.S. Government's Anti-Drug Offensive in the Americas — WOLA
📊 Analysis & Commentary (12)
Venezuela Aims to Gobble Up Honduras
"The WSJ opinion warns that Venezuela, with Cuban backing, is actively seeking to subvert and absorb neighboring countries—Nicaragua already lost and Honduras vulnerable—using political infiltration and exploitation of drug-trafficking infrastructure, a threat the author says deserves more attention even as U.S. naval forces operate in the Caribbean."
"Strong Mutually Antagonistic Governments Everywhere"
"The piece comments on U.S. maritime strikes and the resulting regional diplomatic fallout (notably reduced intelligence sharing), arguing these events exemplify a broader shift toward stronger, mutually antagonistic governments whose unilateral actions produce both tactical results and strategic costs."
What's Going to Happen in Venezuela?
"A skeptical deep‑dive warning that Operation Southern Spear’s shift from sea strikes to air/land attacks and covert strikes inside Venezuela — including CIA involvement, tanker seizures and a partial blockade — risks diplomatic fallout, legal and oversight fights, regional escalation and unintended economic and security consequences."
Maduro Is Gone—Venezuela’s Dictatorship Is Not
"The analysis critiques reports of a U.S. operation that captured Nicolás Maduro, arguing that seizing the leader is insufficient to dismantle Venezuela’s authoritarian system and warning that military decapitation without a credible political, legal and regional stabilization plan risks blowback, illegitimacy and prolonged instability."
Rubio’s big swing
"A Politico Playbook column frames the U.S. extraction of Nicolás Maduro as a risky, potentially legacy‑making move for Marco Rubio — praising his role and the political payoff in Miami while noting major unanswered strategic, legal and regional questions that now fall to Rubio and Trump to resolve."
The rush to judgment
"The Politico Playbook column warns against leaping to conclusions about the U.S. operation that captured Nicolás Maduro, arguing fact‑checkers show many contested claims and urging sober legal and congressional scrutiny instead of instant partisan narratives."
MIKE PENCE: Venezuela has a chance for freedom, thanks to Trump and our armed forces
"Mike Pence’s op‑ed praises the Trump‑ordered raid that captured Nicolás Maduro — tying it to prior sanctions and coalition efforts, framing it as a moral and strategic victory that gives Venezuela a chance to reclaim freedom and rebuild."
The Problem With America’s Venezuela Policy
"An argument that the U.S. raid on Maduro and the follow‑on plan to assert control over Venezuelan oil and re‑engage diplomatically are legally dubious, strategically incoherent and likely to produce political, economic and humanitarian blowback rather than a stable transition."
The wars Trump ended
"The piece critiques the White House’s framing of the Maduro capture as a war‑ending achievement, arguing the raid was a large military operation with serious legal, geopolitical and governance consequences that undercut any simple claim that Trump 'ended' wars."
Why would a city mayor defend a dictator while his own streets continue to burn?
"The column criticizes left‑leaning U.S. mayors for publicly defending Nicolás Maduro after the U.S. raid, calling their reactions hypocritical and a distraction from pressing local problems such as crime and failing schools."
🔬 Explanations (2)
Deeper context and explanatory frameworks for understanding this story
Phenomenon: US military intervention in Venezuela to capture Nicolás Maduro
Explanation: The intervention mirrors the 1989 US invasion of Panama, justified by protecting American lives, restoring democracy, combating drug trafficking, and safeguarding the Panama Canal, reflecting a pattern of US unilateral actions in Latin America to address perceived threats to national security and regional stability
Evidence: Historical analysis shows the Panama invasion was authorized to protect US citizens, depose a leader indicted on drug charges, and ensure strategic interests; similar justifications were used for Venezuela, including Maduro's drug trafficking indictment and threats to US interests
Alternative view: Some analyses suggest the intervention was driven more by oil access and creditor repayment priorities rather than purely security concerns, as per Brookings Institution assessments
💡 This explanation complicates the narrative of a straightforward anti-drug operation by highlighting historical patterns of US interventionism in Latin America, potentially framing it as imperial overreach rather than isolated justice-seeking
Phenomenon: US negotiation of large-scale oil transfers from Venezuela post-intervention
Explanation: Driven by longstanding US economic interests in Venezuela's oil reserves, dating back to the early 20th century, to secure energy supplies, support American oil companies, and maintain influence over a major global oil producer amid geopolitical tensions
Evidence: Venezuela has been a key US trading partner since 1914, with US companies like Chevron playing major roles in its oil industry; post-intervention deals aim to revive investments and ensure market-priced access to reserves, supported by historical data on US involvement in Venezuelan petroleum
Alternative view: Alternative views emphasize political motivations, such as promoting democracy and regional stability, over pure economic gains, as noted in Brookings reports
💡 It challenges the implicit narrative of benevolent aid or mutual benefit by underscoring economic exploitation and historical dependencies, potentially portraying the deal as prioritizing US corporate interests over Venezuelan sovereignty
📰 Source Timeline (73)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
January 15, 2026
8:29 PM
General tapped to lead US operations in Latin America grilled over presence in region
New information:
- Lt. Gen. Francis Donovan, a Marine Corps officer nominated to lead U.S. Southern Command, told senators he is prepared to oversee an expanded U.S. presence in Latin America but does not know the Trump administration’s long‑term plan or how long the buildup will last.
- Donovan acknowledged that, because of what he called a 'pivot to the Western Hemisphere,' Southern Command this year will have to be 'much different than SouthCom last year.'
- Sen. Angus King pressed Donovan on why he does not know 'why all those ships and aircraft and soldiers are there,' highlighting a gap between operational deployments and the nominee’s knowledge of strategic intent.
- The same hearing featured Lt. Gen. Joshua Rudd, nominated to lead the NSA and Cyber Command, who was questioned by Sen. Elissa Slotkin about whether he would reject any Trump order to spy on Americans for their political views; Rudd pledged to act only 'in accordance with the Constitution and all applicable laws.'
- Lawmakers from both parties signaled they expect both Donovan and Rudd to be confirmed, though no vote date has yet been set.
January 12, 2026
12:00 PM
Inside the lightning US strike that overwhelmed Venezuela’s defenses and seized Maduro
New information:
- Pentagon officials say more than 150 U.S. aircraft, including F‑22s, F‑35s, F/A‑18s, EA‑18s, E‑2s, B‑1 bombers and multiple drones, took part in the Jan. 3 strikes on Venezuela’s defenses backing the Maduro capture.
- Joint Chiefs chairman Gen. Dan Caine said the joint air component "dismantled and disabled" Venezuela’s air‑defense systems to clear a safe corridor for incoming helicopters carrying the extraction force.
- Analyst Mark Cancian and U.S. Space Command statements indicate U.S. Cyber Command and Space Command likely contributed by penetrating Venezuelan infrastructure and providing space‑based positioning, navigation, timing and communications, with Caracas blackouts on Jan. 3 potentially tied to U.S. cyber actions Trump publicly hinted at.
- The article identifies a probable use of AGM‑88 HARM anti‑radiation missiles to neutralize Venezuelan radar and air defenses as part of "Operation Absolute Resolve."
6:05 AM
Venezuelans in the US are torn between joy and worry after ousting of Maduro
New information:
- Article provides detailed, on‑the‑ground reactions from Venezuelan migrants in multiple U.S. cities to the U.S. raid that ousted Maduro.
- It documents that many Venezuelans with TPS or other precarious status are afraid to return despite Maduro’s removal, citing fear of the remaining regime structure and Trump’s move to deport Venezuelans without permanent residency.
- It contrasts DHS Secretary Kristi Noem’s claim that Venezuelans are 'overwhelmingly' excited and see more opportunity to go back with migrants’ accounts showing no broad rush to return.
- It quantifies the affected community as more than 770,000 Venezuelans living in the U.S. and notes some are already leaving for third countries because of tightened U.S. policies.
January 10, 2026
10:00 PM
US warns Americans to leave Venezuela immediately as armed militias set up roadblocks
New information:
- U.S. Embassy Caracas issued a Jan. 10 security alert explicitly urging all U.S. citizens in Venezuela to leave the country immediately.
- The alert cites reports of pro‑government armed militias ('colectivos') setting up roadblocks on Venezuelan roads and searching vehicles for evidence of U.S. citizenship or support for the United States.
- The embassy reiterates that, since all diplomatic personnel were withdrawn in March 2019, the U.S. government remains unable to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens in Venezuela.
- The alert notes that international commercial flights have now resumed and urges Americans to use them to depart as soon as they feel it is safe to do so.
January 09, 2026
11:37 PM
U.S. and Venezuela take initial steps toward restoring relations after Maduro's capture
New information:
- The U.S. State Department sent a small delegation of diplomats and security personnel to Venezuela to make a preliminary assessment about potentially reopening the U.S. Embassy in Caracas.
- Venezuela’s government, led by acting President Delcy Rodríguez, issued a formal statement saying it has decided to begin an 'exploratory process of a diplomatic nature' with the United States aimed at re-establishing diplomatic missions in both countries.
- Caracas plans to send its own delegation to the United States, which will likely require U.S. Treasury sanctions waivers to travel.
- The article clarifies that this is the first explicit, mutual step toward restoring formal diplomatic relations since ties were cut and the U.S. Embassy in Caracas was closed in 2019.
- The piece recaps that the last notable U.S. visit before the Maduro raid was a February trip by Trump envoy Richard Grenell that led to the release of six detained Americans.
4:41 AM
Trump plans to meet with Venezuela opposition leader Maria Corina Machado next week
New information:
- Trump told Fox News' 'Hannity' he plans to meet Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado in Washington next week.
- Trump said this would be his first meeting with Machado and that he 'looks forward to saying hello to her.'
- Trump reiterated that he believes Machado 'doesn't have the support within or the respect within the country' to lead Venezuela and that, despite earlier reports, he claims her Nobel Peace Prize acceptance was not the reason for his prior refusal to support her.
3:15 AM
Trump says he'll meet with Venezuelan opposition leader Machado next week
New information:
- Trump, in a Fox News 'Hannity' interview, says he understands María Corina Machado is 'coming in next week sometime' and that he looks forward to meeting her, giving a clearer near-term timing for the meeting.
- Trump explicitly welcomes Machado’s public offer to give him her 2025 Nobel Peace Prize, calling it 'a great honor.'
- Trump links Machado’s Nobel offer and the upcoming meeting to his personal narrative that he 'put out eight wars,' reinforcing how he is framing the Caracas raid and his broader foreign-policy record.
2:20 AM
Venezuela teeters as guerrilla groups, cartels exploit Maduro power vacuum
New information:
- Analysts say Venezuela is 'completely saturated' with heavily armed groups — including parastate militias, guerrillas and criminal networks — that can easily sabotage any political transition after Maduro’s capture.
- Experts identify Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello and Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino as the two key hardline power brokers whose approval Delcy Rodríguez must secure for any deal with the Trump administration.
- Government‑aligned colectivos have been deployed across Caracas and other cities to enforce order, erecting checkpoints where masked enforcers search civilians’ phones and vehicles for signs of opposition to the U.S. raid.
- Guerrilla organizations, including Colombia’s ELN (a U.S.-designated terrorist group), are reported to control swathes of Venezuela’s 2,219‑kilometer border with Colombia and illegal mining zones near the Orinoco oil belt.
- Local residents quoted by UK outlets describe widespread uncertainty and fear, citing the presence of colectivos with weapons and Colombian guerrillas already operating inside Venezuela.
January 08, 2026
11:01 PM
Venezuelans wanted change, but post-US strike they worry it’s ‘more of the same’
New information:
- Article provides on-the-ground reaction in Venezuela showing that celebrations over Maduro’s ouster were muted inside the country and quickly overshadowed by intensified government repression after the U.S. strikes.
- It reports that electricity outages followed the Jan. 3 U.S. strikes and that many Venezuelans see the leadership shift to Delcy Rodríguez as 'more of the same' given her role in Maduro’s inner circle.
- It quotes Delcy Rodríguez initially calling the Trump administration 'extremists' who violated international law, then reversing course a day later on Jan. 4 via social media to invite U.S. 'collaboration' on an agenda of cooperation.
- The piece documents that even harsh Maduro critics fear continuing political repression, shortages, and human rights abuses despite his removal, underscoring doubts about genuine political rupture.
7:49 PM
Pilot who helped plan Venezuelan operation wounded in Caracas, sources say
New information:
- U.S. officials say a lead MH‑47 Chinook helicopter inserting Delta Force near Caracas was hit by hostile fire but remained airborne and completed its run.
- Those officials say the Chinook pilot, who also helped plan the mission, was wounded multiple times in the leg during the engagement.
- A Pentagon official told CBS News that two U.S. service members are still recovering from injuries sustained during Operation Absolute Resolve, while five others were injured but have already returned to duty.
- The Defense Department characterized the mission as "extremely complex and grueling" and said the low number of injuries reflects the "expertise of our joint warriors."
- The piece reiterates that Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores were brought to a federal detention center in New York and that Maduro pleaded not guilty, declaring himself "innocent" and "still president" at arraignment.
- The article notes Trump told The New York Times the U.S. could oversee Venezuela for "much longer" than a year, saying "only time will tell" how long direct U.S. oversight will last, and that the Senate advanced a War Powers resolution limiting further strikes after those remarks.
7:29 PM
'The atmosphere is very authoritarian': Venezuela's opposition reels from the sidelines
New information:
- States that President Trump has chosen to work 'for now' with interim President Delcy Rodríguez rather than with opposition leader and Nobel Peace Prize laureate María Corina Machado.
- Reports that Venezuela’s government has imposed a 90‑day state of emergency allowing security forces to detain 'any person involved in the promotion or support' of the U.S. military operation, reinforcing an authoritarian environment post‑raid.
- Quotes expert Javier Corrales comparing Trump’s sidelining of a Machado‑backed electoral result to his own Jan. 6, 2021 refusal to accept U.S. election outcomes, arguing it 'betrays' Venezuela’s 2024 vote.
- Quotes expert John Polga‑Hecimovich saying Trump’s team views it as a 'smart play' to back Delcy Rodríguez because she can hold the military and maintain order, whereas Machado is distrusted by the armed forces.
- Notes that Trump’s weekend press conference on Maduro’s capture omitted any mention of restoring democracy in Venezuela or of the apparent 2024 opposition landslide victory that Maduro allegedly stole.
4:21 PM
Venezuela says 100 were killed in US operation to capture Maduro: report
New information:
- Venezuela’s interior minister Diosdado Cabello claims about 100 people were killed in the U.S. operation to capture Nicolás Maduro.
- Venezuela’s army has posted a list naming 23 of its own personnel reported killed in the raid.
- Cuba’s government, via Communist Party newspaper Granma, says 32 Cuban military and police personnel died while assisting Venezuela during the operation and has released their names, ranks and ages.
- Cabello says Maduro suffered a leg injury and his wife Cilia Flores sustained a head injury during the capture.
- A U.S. administration official tells Fox News Digital that seven U.S. service members were injured in the mission, five of whom have already returned to duty while two remain in recovery.
January 06, 2026
11:48 AM
Maduro held in NYC jail as Trump administration plans for Venezuela's future
New information:
- Provides fresh Trump quotes to NBC News and The Atlantic about delaying elections in Venezuela, having the U.S. 'run' the country, and threatening interim president Delcy Rodríguez with a 'very big price.'
- Details Rubio’s stated strategy on U.S. economic leverage through restricted Venezuelan oil exports as the main tool of control.
- Adds U.N. criticism over international law that bolsters ongoing questions about the legality and global fallout already noted in fact‑check coverage.
January 05, 2026
11:38 PM
The Briefing: How Capitol Hill reacted to news of Nicolás Maduro's capture
New information:
- Documents congressional leaders’ first classified briefing on the Maduro raid and identifies which senior national‑security and Cabinet officials briefed them.
- Adds direct quotes from multiple lawmakers about whether the raid constitutes war, the scope of the larger campaign, and whether Congress should have approved it in advance.
- Provides Rep. Pat Ryan’s allegation that Marco Rubio misled him about potential regime‑change planning, deepening questions about transparency and oversight around the operation.
5:13 PM
Maduro and wife plead not guilty to narco-terrorism charges
New information:
- Confirms that Maduro and Flores survived the capture operation and are now in U.S. custody, having been brought to New York over the weekend for a federal court appearance.
- Specifies that the initial hearing in SDNY on January 5 lasted less than an hour and concluded with formal not‑guilty pleas.
- Provides visual indicators (Flores’ swollen eye and bandaged forehead) suggesting injuries from the U.S. military operation not previously documented in the fact‑check‑focused coverage.
January 04, 2026
6:46 PM
Fact-checking Trump's claims after U.S. strike on Venezuela and capture of Maduro
New information:
- PolitiFact confirms that Delcy Rodríguez publicly condemned the U.S. raid on Venezuelan state TV as 'brutal aggression' and demanded Maduro’s immediate release, contradicting Trump’s claim that she was 'essentially willing' to follow U.S. wishes.
- The article cites a March ClearPath Strategies poll showing opposition leader María Corina Machado with a 72% approval rating in Venezuela, undercutting Trump’s assertion that she lacks domestic support and respect.
- Trump claimed, without evidence, that U.S. administration of Venezuela 'won’t cost us anything' because U.S. oil companies will fund necessary infrastructure, and PolitiFact flags this as unsubstantiated.
- Rubio defends not pre‑notifying Congress about the assault by saying it would endanger the mission, while Democratic senators including Tim Kaine and Jeanne Shaheen argue Congress should have been notified and label the attack unauthorized.
- The article reiterates that Maduro and Cilia Flores are facing newly unsealed U.S. cocaine‑trafficking indictments and that the raid followed months of U.S. maritime strikes off Venezuela’s coast that have killed more than 100 people, framed as anti‑smuggling operations.
5:39 PM
Rubio vows to eliminate Hezbollah, Iran operations from Venezuela after Maduro capture
New information:
- Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated on CBS' 'Face the Nation' that under the Trump administration the U.S. will not allow Venezuela to function as a crossroads for Hezbollah, Iran and other 'malign' actors in the Western Hemisphere.
- Rubio told NBC's 'Meet the Press' that regarding Venezuela there will be 'no more Iran/Hezbollah presence there,' explicitly framing elimination of those networks as a U.S. policy goal after Maduro’s capture.
- Hezbollah publicly condemned the U.S. operation that captured Maduro, calling it 'terrorist aggression and American thuggery' and declaring 'full solidarity' with Venezuela's government against 'American aggression.'
- Expert Walid Phares, cited as a Hezbollah specialist, details the group’s long‑standing infrastructure in Venezuela, including command‑and‑control elements in Caracas and Margarita Island as a logistical hub for finance, intelligence and alleged narcotics trafficking, and notes links to operations across Latin America and toward the U.S.–Mexico border.
- Phares describes reports of Venezuelan cooperation with Iranian and Hezbollah operations aimed at Iranian dissidents abroad, including attempted kidnappings and intimidation in the Western Hemisphere.
- Hezbollah’s condemnation statement underscores that the group views the Maduro capture as a direct challenge to its position in Venezuela.
5:24 PM
Kristi Noem delivers Trump's ultimatum to Venezuela's vice president following Maduro capture operation
New information:
- Noem explicitly characterizes Trump as 'done negotiating' after the raid and emphasizes that future dealings with Venezuela’s vice president are 'very matter‑of‑fact and very clear.'
- She links the capture of Maduro to a broader strategy of installing a Venezuelan leadership the U.S. 'can work with' rather than one engaged in crimes, drug trafficking and killing 'our children and our grandchildren.'
5:06 PM
Cotton: New Venezuelan government cannot "continue Nicolás Maduro's ways"
New information:
- Cotton publicly framed the U.S. goal as preventing Maduro’s remaining apparatus from 'continu[ing] Nicolás Maduro’s ways' while giving them 'a chance to turn the page in Venezuela.'
- He laid out specific expectations: stopping drug and weapons trafficking, expelling Iranian, Cuban and Hezbollah-linked actors, and returning Venezuela to what he called 'a normal nation' that supports regional stability.
- He endorsed free and fair elections as an explicit medium-term goal, likely in 'a number of months,' and said he hopes exiled opposition figures like Nobel Peace Prize recipient María Corina Machado can return.
- Cotton repeated and amplified Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s talking points about what the administration wants to see from a post‑Maduro government still composed largely of his allies.
4:18 PM
Who is Delcy Rodríguez, Maduro's No. 2 now leading Venezuela?
New information:
- President Trump has publicly said the U.S. will ‘run Venezuela’ and claimed Delcy Rodríguez appeared cooperative in conversations with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, asserting she told Rubio, ‘We’ll do whatever you need,’ while tying potential U.S. troop presence to whether she complies with U.S. demands.
- Venezuela’s Supreme Court has ordered Delcy Rodríguez to assume the powers of acting president following Maduro’s seizure, and she made her first on‑camera appearance after the attack in front of a Venezuelan flag demanding Maduro’s release.
- Rodríguez’s televised address struck a defiant tone, declaring Venezuela would never again be ‘slaves’ or ‘the colony of another empire’ and insisting there is ‘only one president in Venezuela, and his name is Nicolás Maduro.’
- Conflicting accounts of Rodríguez’s whereabouts emerged: Reuters, citing four sources, reported she was in Russia, Russian officials denied that to state media, while the New York Times reported via three people close to her that she was in Caracas and that multiple Maduro allies survived the attack.
- Senate Intelligence Committee Chair Tom Cotton said on CNN that the U.S. does not recognize Rodríguez as Venezuela’s legitimate leader, mirroring the prior stance on Maduro, and warned that she cannot be assumed friendly to the U.S. until she proves it.
- The article adds detailed biographical context on Rodríguez, including her long role in chavismo, prior posts as communication minister, foreign minister, and finance minister, her position as oil minister, and her family’s political background.
4:12 PM
Marco Rubio says "the president always retains optionality" to occupy Venezuela
New information:
- Rubio publicly backed Trump’s statement that the U.S. could 'run' Venezuela temporarily, but clarified that what is currently being exercised is control via an oil 'quarantine' and seizure of sanctioned oil shipments.
- He specified that the current naval deployment has conducted strikes on more than 30 boats and is positioned to stop 'any of these sanctioned boats that come in and out' of Venezuela to cut regime revenue.
- Rubio framed the quarantine as both a tool to advance U.S. national interests and to pressure changes in Venezuela’s oil industry, drug trafficking, and the presence of FARC, ELN and Hezbollah-linked actors.
- He argued that the Venezuela operation is distinct from U.S. wars in Libya, Iraq and Afghanistan, emphasizing its Western Hemisphere context and focus on narco‑trafficking and terrorist affiliations.
2:36 PM
Transcript: Sen. Tom Cotton on "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan," Jan. 4, 2026
New information:
- Cotton publicly reinforces that the CIA played a central role in the Maduro extraction and says John Ratcliffe has 'restored confidence' in the agency, which he characterizes as enjoying renewed respect from President Trump.
- He frames the remaining Venezuelan power structure as composed of previously sanctioned and indicted officials, suggesting U.S. leverage over them in post‑raid negotiations.
- He connects the Venezuela policy model to prior U.S. dealings with former adversaries such as Syria’s Ahmed al‑Sharaa and Libya’s Muammar Gaddafi, emphasizing the need for 'concrete concessions' to U.S. interests.
- Cotton underscores that Trump’s goal is to have Venezuela 'return to being a normal nation' that contributes to 'stability, order and prosperity' in the Western Hemisphere, giving political context to the administration’s broader Operation Southern Spear posture.
10:19 AM
Live Updates: Questions Mount for U.S. and Venezuela After Maduro’s Capture
New information:
- Provides a specific Venezuelan-reported death toll from the Caracas raid: at least 40 people (civilians and soldiers) were killed, versus earlier generic references to injuries without firm numbers.
- Clarifies U.S. casualties from the raid: no American service members were killed, but a helicopter was hit and about six soldiers were injured.
- Adds that the broader months‑long maritime campaign linked to Operation Southern Spear killed at least 115 people in dozens of boat strikes, characterized by experts as extrajudicial killings.
- Reports that the New York federal indictment against Maduro and Cilia Flores includes four counts (narco‑terrorism, cocaine‑import conspiracy and weapons charges) and has resulted in his confinement at MDC Brooklyn awaiting a Manhattan court appearance.
- Introduces Delcy Rodríguez’s secret swearing‑in as interim leader and the U.S. calculus that she can be a partner to secure American energy interests, including direct positive remarks about her from Trump.
- Notes that European leaders have so far refrained from openly criticizing the U.S. operation, an early indicator of international reaction.
7:01 AM
Maduro arrives in US after stunning capture in operation that Trump says will let US 'run' Venezuela
New information:
- Confirms Maduro’s and Cilia Flores’s physical arrival in the United States at a New York‑area airport, a step that moves beyond Trump’s prior descriptions of the raid itself.
- Specifies that U.S. forces extracted the couple from their home located on a Venezuelan military base in Caracas, under cover of darkness with power disruptions Trump described.
- Reports that DOJ issued an updated or new indictment on Saturday that includes both Maduro and his wife and emphasizes the alleged narco‑terrorism conspiracy as the basis for his prosecution in U.S. courts.
January 03, 2026
3:14 PM
Trump to hold a press conference on operation to remove Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro
New information:
- Trump says there were U.S. injuries but no U.S. fatalities during the operation to remove/capture Nicolás Maduro.
- He states a second wave of U.S. troops had been prepared but was ultimately not needed.
- Trump publicly defends the legality of the operation, dismissing critics who say it 'maybe it's not constitutional' as 'the same old stuff.'
- He says the U.S. will be 'very strongly involved' in Venezuela’s oil reserves and will not allow 'somebody else take over' to avoid having to repeat such an operation.
- Trump says he expects China to still receive Venezuelan oil and claims there will be 'no problem' with President Xi over oil access.
- He suggests most Venezuelan officials have already 'converted' away from Maduro and warns that those who remain loyal face 'really bad' futures.
2:49 PM
House Democrat calls Trump's Maduro capture 'welcome news' as left accuses him of 'illegal actions'
New information:
- Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, a Florida Democrat representing many Venezuelan refugees, publicly called Maduro’s capture 'welcome news' and said it could offer a path to seat opposition figure Edmundo González as the 'true, democratically elected president.'
- Wasserman Schultz simultaneously criticized the administration for bypassing Congress, pledged to demand answers on why lawmakers were not notified, and called for hearings on what she labeled an 'invasion.'
- Rep. Yvette Clarke said on X that Trump 'launched a large-scale military attack on a sovereign nation and kidnapped its sitting president, without congressional approval,' calling the action 'unconstitutional' and 'a direct threat to our democracy.'
- Sen. Ruben Gallego, a Marine Corps veteran of the Iraq War, stated there is 'no justification for the United States to be at war with Venezuela' and likened the operation to an 'illegal war' sold with lies, saying the U.S. is repeating past mistakes.
- Rep. Eugene Vindman, another military veteran, asserted that 'President Trump has started a war in Venezuela, without any congressional approval, and in violation of the Constitution,' warning that wars are easy to start and hard to finish.
2:21 PM
World leaders denounce U.S. operation to capture Maduro
New information:
- Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva condemned the U.S. raid and capture of Nicolás Maduro as crossing an 'unacceptable line' and a 'most serious affront' to Venezuela's sovereignty, warning it sets a dangerous precedent under international law.
- Mexico's Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement stressing that Latin America and the Caribbean constitute a 'zone of peace' and warning that any military action in the region jeopardizes regional stability.
- Colombian President Gustavo Petro expressed 'deep concern' over the explosions in Caracas and reiterated Colombia’s commitment to peace, international law and the protection of human life and dignity over armed confrontation.
- Russia’s foreign minister labeled the U.S. action 'an act of armed aggression against Venezuela,' while Iran called it a 'flagrant violation' of Venezuelan sovereignty.
- EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas stated that while Maduro 'lacks legitimacy,' the U.N. Charter must be respected, and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez called for 'de-escalation.'
- Argentina’s President Javier Milei publicly celebrated Maduro’s capture, responding on X with his slogan 'LONG LIVE FREEDOM!' showing that not all regional responses were negative.
12:58 PM
U.S. lawmakers react after Trump announces Venezuela operation
New information:
- CBS News reports that U.S. Army Delta Force conducted the operation to capture Nicolás Maduro and his wife.
- Attorney General Pam Bondi states that Maduro and his wife 'have been indicted' in the Southern District of New York on narco‑terrorism charges, though it is unclear whether this refers only to the 2020 indictment or new charges.
- Senate Intelligence Chair Tom Cotton says Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed to him that Maduro is in U.S. custody and will face justice for crimes against U.S. citizens.
- Sen. Mike Lee says Rubio told him Maduro will be brought to the United States and that Rubio anticipates no further U.S. military action in Venezuela now that Maduro is in custody.
- Lee publicly argues the operation likely falls within the president's inherent Article II authority to protect U.S. personnel from an actual or imminent attack.
- Democratic lawmakers including Sen. Andy Kim and Rep. Jim McGovern accuse the administration of bypassing constitutionally required congressional authorization and label the strike unjustified and illegal.
- Kim specifically alleges Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth misled Congress in prior briefings by denying a regime‑change objective.
- The article cites a November CBS News poll finding about 70% of Americans oppose U.S. military action in Venezuela and 75% say congressional approval would be required, with most respondents not viewing Venezuela as a major threat.
12:05 PM
Trump faces quick criticism from Democrats over Maduro capture
New information:
- Democratic lawmakers, including Sen. Andy Kim (D‑N.J.), Rep. Darren Soto (D‑Fla.) and Rep. Seth Moulton (D‑Mass.), are publicly criticizing Trump for ordering the Caracas strikes and Maduro capture without prior congressional authorization.
- Kim argues the operation 'sends a horrible and disturbing signal' that targeting a head of state is acceptable U.S. policy and cites polling showing broad voter disapproval of armed conflict in Venezuela.
- Soto calls Maduro's capture a 'major step' toward a free Venezuela but says Trump's failure to seek congressional approval raises 'serious questions' about the mission's legality and urges 'extensive hearings' on the attack and democracy‑restoration efforts.
- Moulton states that 'Congress did not authorize this war' and that Venezuela posed 'no imminent threat to the United States.'
- Both Kim and Soto note that top Trump officials had previously told Congress the U.S. was not seeking to oust Maduro and would seek authorization for any ground operations in Venezuela.
- Sen. Mike Lee (R‑Utah) publicly defends Trump, saying he 'likely' acted under Article II authority to defend U.S. troops overseas.
11:52 AM
US strikes Venezuela and says its leader, Maduro, has been captured and flown out of the country
New information:
- Provides a contemporaneous, on-the-ground account that explosions and low-flying aircraft were reported across Caracas, with at least seven blasts and smoke rising from La Carlota military airport.
- Confirms the strike was described by U.S. officials as a "large-scale" operation that lasted less than 30 minutes and took place early on Jan. 3, 2026.
- Details that Trump personally announced on Truth Social around 4:30 a.m. ET that Maduro and his wife had been "captured and flown out of the Country" in an operation conducted "in conjunction with U.S. Law Enforcement."
- Quotes Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodríguez stating that the government does not know the whereabouts of Maduro and First Lady Cilia Flores and publicly demanding "proof of life."
- Reports that Sen. Mike Lee said he was briefed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who told him Maduro had been arrested by U.S. personnel to stand trial on criminal charges in the United States.
- Notes that the FAA issued a ban on U.S. commercial flights in Venezuelan airspace due to "ongoing military activity" ahead of the explosions.
- Clarifies that it was not immediately clear who was running Venezuela after the strike, although under Venezuelan law the vice president would assume power.
- Adds that the CIA was behind a prior drone strike at a Venezuelan dock area used by suspected drug cartels, characterizing it as the first known direct CIA operation on Venezuelan soil since the U.S. maritime campaign began.
11:51 AM
World reaction to U.S. strikes on Venezuela pours in
New information:
- Colombia said it is implementing steps to protect civilians and stabilize the Colombia‑Venezuela border while preparing for potential humanitarian and migration needs, and called for urgent deescalation.
- Cuban President Miguel Díaz‑Canel labeled the operation a 'criminal US attack' and urged an 'urgent reaction' from the international community.
- Iran condemned the strikes as a 'flagrant violation' of Venezuela’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, referencing Trump’s recent 'locked and loaded' warning to Tehran over protests there.
- Russia’s Foreign Ministry called the operation 'an act of armed aggression against Venezuela,' said U.S. justifications were 'unfounded,' urged avoiding further escalation, and backed calls for an emergency U.N. Security Council meeting so Venezuela can 'determine its own destiny' without external military interference.
- EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said she spoke with Secretary of State Marco Rubio and the EU ambassador in Caracas, reiterated that the EU considers Maduro to lack legitimacy, but stressed that international law and the U.N. Charter must be respected and that the safety of EU citizens in Venezuela is the EU’s top priority.
- European governments including Italy, Belgium, and Spain emphasized protecting their nationals in Venezuela, with Spain explicitly calling for de‑escalation, adherence to the U.N. Charter, and offering to help mediate a peaceful, negotiated solution.
11:37 AM
Maduro's capture draws echoes of Noriega in 1990
New information:
- Axios explicitly frames Maduro’s seizure as a lightning-fast operation compared with Manuel Noriega’s 1989–1990 capture, emphasizing the speed of the U.S. action.
- The article notes that in the Noriega case, once in the U.S. he fought and ultimately won recognition as a prisoner of war, securing POW privileges (uniform, less restrictive conditions) and spending 20 years in U.S. custody before extraditions to France and back to Panama.
- Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) posted on X early Saturday that he was told Maduro would be brought to the United States to stand criminal trial, but provided no details on when, where, or how.
- It states that as of early Saturday it was not yet clear where Maduro would be held or tried, but that the legal saga over charges, status, and detention is all but certain to take years to resolve.
10:22 AM
Trump says Maduro "captured" by U.S. in stunning move
New information:
- Trump stated that the United States 'successfully carried out a large scale strike against Venezuela and its leader' and that Maduro and his wife have been captured and flown out of Venezuela.
- He characterized the mission as a joint operation with U.S. law enforcement and promised further details at an 11 a.m. Mar‑a‑Lago press conference.
- Following the Truth Social post, explosions and low-flying aircraft were reported over Caracas, Maduro’s government accused the U.S. of attacking, and Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodríguez said on state TV that they do not know the president’s whereabouts and demanded proof of life.
7:38 AM
U.S. launches military strikes on Venezuela as Trump escalates pressure on Maduro
New information:
- Confirms new phase: U.S. airstrikes on Venezuelan sites, including military facilities, ordered by President Trump early Saturday.
- Reiterates that more than 30 lethal maritime strikes have already been carried out, providing a bridge from sea‑based Operation Southern Spear actions to these new land strikes.
- Adds direct quotes from Trump and White House chief of staff Susie Wiles that illuminate the administration’s coercive goal of pressuring Maduro personally, including the desire to keep 'blowing boats up until Maduro cries uncle.'
7:28 AM
Explosions and low-flying aircraft heard in Venezuela's capital Caracas
New information:
- The operational environment around Venezuela has escalated from maritime strikes on suspected drug-smuggling vessels to apparent aerial or missile strikes reaching the capital, Caracas, with at least seven explosions reported around 2 a.m.
- Low-flying aircraft and smoke at or near La Carlota airport were observed from various parts of Caracas, indicating a possible new phase or theater in the campaign beyond offshore interdictions.
- Colombian President Gustavo Petro publicly characterized the event as bombing of Caracas 'with missiles' and requested a U.N. meeting, signaling rising regional diplomatic stakes.
4:33 AM
Coast Guard halts search for suspected smugglers after U.S. strike
New information:
- Provides detailed operational account of one specific Dec. 30 convoy strike within the broader Operation Southern Spear tally, including that three people were killed on the first boat and up to eight people jumped from two other boats before the Coast Guard’s unsuccessful 65‑hour search.
- Adds Coast Guard confirmation that the search in that incident has been called off with no survivors or debris found, and notes the challenges posed by 40‑knot winds, nine‑foot seas and long‑range constraints.
- Introduces Colombian President Gustavo Petro’s public assertion that the people 'appeared to survive' the strike and that Colombia’s navy was willing to assist, signalling diplomatic friction over U.S. handling of survivors.
- Summarizes prior controversial survivor outcomes in the campaign: two initial Sept. 2 survivors later killed in a follow‑on strike; two mid‑October survivors detained and repatriated to Colombia and Ecuador; and a late‑October survivor now presumed dead after Mexico ended its search.
1:09 AM
US Coast Guard searches for survivors of boat strikes as odds diminish days later
New information:
- Specifies that in the late‑December eastern Pacific convoy incident, U.S. Southern Command says three suspected trafficking boats were transiting known narco‑trafficking routes and had transferred narcotics among themselves prior to U.S. strikes, though it has not publicly produced evidence.
- Clarifies that the latest search area is about 400 miles southwest of the Mexico–Guatemala border, and that the Navy had no ships operating in that sector when the strikes occurred.
- Details that the Coast Guard launched a fixed‑wing aircraft from Sacramento and coordinated over 65 hours of search and rescue across more than 1,000 square miles, with urgent marine broadcasts and assistance from foreign and civilian vessels, in rough seas and high winds.
- Recounts that early‑September survivors from a different strike were killed by a follow‑up attack on their disabled boat, which critics call potentially criminal and the administration defends as legal, underlining the controversy surrounding the rules of engagement.
January 02, 2026
4:35 PM
Maduro says Venezuela is open to U.S. talks on drug trafficking, but keeps mum on CIA strike
New information:
- Confirms that the CIA was behind a drone strike last week at a Venezuelan docking area believed used by Venezuelan drug cartels, described as the first known direct U.S. operation on Venezuelan soil in this campaign.
- Clarifies that the CIA strike was conducted at a 'docking area' rather than only generically a dock, providing additional detail on the target type.
- Provides on-the-record public comments from President Nicolás Maduro saying Venezuela is ready to negotiate an agreement with the U.S. to combat drug trafficking and is also open to expanded U.S. oil investment akin to its arrangement with Chevron.
- Maduro reiterates his view that the U.S. pressure campaign and Caribbean military deployment aim to force regime change and gain control over Venezuela’s oil reserves, while hinting he may speak about the CIA operation 'in a few days.'
- Reconfirms updated aggregate figures now used by the Trump administration: 35 known boat strikes and at least 115 people killed, including Venezuelans, and notes that five alleged drug‑smuggling boats were struck on New Year’s Eve.
2:45 PM
Maduro says Venezuela open to U.S. talks on drug trafficking
New information:
- Confirms, with attribution to the Trump administration, that as of New Year’s Eve the tally of boat strikes stands at 35 with at least 115 dead and notes specifically that Venezuelans are among the fatalities.
- Adds Maduro’s New Year’s Eve televised comments offering to 'seriously discuss an agreement to combat drug trafficking' with the U.S., indicating a potential diplomatic opening tied directly to the Southern Spear campaign.
- Clarifies that the maritime strikes began off Venezuela’s Caribbean coast and then expanded to the eastern Pacific, reinforcing the geographic scope of Operation Southern Spear.
5:36 AM
Maduro "ready" to talk with U.S. on drug trafficking, won't comment on dock strike
New information:
- Maduro publicly acknowledged the months-long U.S. "militarized pressure campaign" targeting suspected "narco-terrorists" and said Venezuela is ready to "start talking seriously" with U.S. officials about an agreement to combat drug trafficking.
- He coupled this with an explicit invitation for expanded U.S. oil investment along the lines of Chevron’s existing operations, framing Venezuela as open to American capital "whenever they want, wherever they want, and however they want."
- Pressed on reports of a U.S. dock or "ground attack" in Venezuela that Trump has referenced, Maduro avoided a direct answer, saying only that it might be discussed "in a few days."
January 01, 2026
2:44 AM
U.S. military strikes 5 more alleged drug boats, killing 8
New information:
- U.S. Southern Command says U.S. forces struck five additional alleged drug‑smuggling boats over two days (Tuesday and Wednesday), killing eight people.
- Three boats in a convoy were struck on Tuesday: three people were killed on the first boat; people in the other two boats jumped overboard before those vessels were attacked.
- Southern Command states it immediately notified the U.S. Coast Guard to initiate search‑and‑rescue operations after the Tuesday strikes, though it has not said whether survivors were recovered.
- Two more boats were struck on Wednesday, killing five people alleged to be drug smugglers along known trafficking routes.
- Southern Command again did not disclose specific locations or provide physical evidence of narcotics on the vessels, beyond claiming they had transferred drugs between boats prior to the Tuesday strikes.
- The article notes that the Coast Guard notification is notable in light of a prior early‑September incident where U.S. forces killed survivors in a follow‑up strike on a disabled boat, which drew allegations of war crimes from some lawmakers and legal experts.
- The new figures bring the Trump administration’s acknowledged maritime campaign to 35 boat strikes and at least 115 deaths since early September.
- The piece reiterates that the Trump administration characterizes the campaign as part of an 'armed conflict' with drug cartels and as an escalation in its broader pressure effort against Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, who is charged with narco‑terrorism in the U.S.
1:59 AM
US military confirms 5 killed in Dec 31 kinetic strike on reported narco-terror vessels
New information:
- Confirms a separate Dec. 31 kinetic strike under Operation Southern Spear targeting two narco‑trafficking vessels, distinct from the previously reported three‑vessel convoy strike.
- Specifies that five individuals described by officials as 'narco‑terrorists' were killed in the Dec. 31 action, with three killed on the first vessel and two on the second.
- Notes that U.S. Southern Command released unclassified video of at least one strike and that officials declined to clarify whether additional engagements occurred beyond what was shown.
- Indicates that another strike was announced earlier the same day, though SOUTHCOM has not confirmed whether the two announcements refer to linked operations.
December 31, 2025
11:50 PM
Alleged drug smugglers jumped overboard in latest boat strikes, U.S. military says
New information:
- Southern Command says that after the first of three narco-trafficking vessels in a convoy was struck and three people were killed, individuals on the other two boats jumped overboard and abandoned ship before follow-on engagements sank those vessels.
- U.S. officials told CBS News that as many as eight people abandoned the remaining two vessels and that the strikes occurred in the eastern Pacific Ocean.
- Southern Command now puts the estimated death toll in the months-long campaign at "at least 110."
- The U.S. Coast Guard says it was notified Tuesday of "mariners in distress in the Pacific Ocean," is coordinating search-and-rescue with vessels in the area, and has dispatched a C-130 aircraft able to drop a survival raft and supplies.
- A 46‑second video of the latest strikes "did not appear to show any survivors in the water," according to CBS.
- The article reiterates that the Trump administration’s handling of survivors is under scrutiny, citing the Sept. 2 follow‑up strike that killed two survivors, the Oct. 16 Caribbean case where two survivors were detained and repatriated, and the Oct. 27 Pacific strike where one survivor is now presumed dead, and notes Congress is seeking to rein in the strikes over legality and escalation risks with Venezuela.
- Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has said the Pentagon has no plans to release video of the Sept. 2 follow‑up strike, despite calls from both critics and defenders.
10:22 PM
U.S. military strikes three more alleged drug boats, killing 3 and possibly leaving survivors
New information:
- U.S. Southern Command confirms three additional strikes on alleged drug-smuggling boats on Tuesday, with three people killed.
- SOUTHCOM says the three vessels were traveling unusually close together in a convoy along known narco-trafficking routes and had transferred narcotics between them prior to the strikes (no evidence provided publicly).
- In the latest incident, only occupants on the first boat were killed; people on the other two boats jumped overboard and distanced themselves from the vessels before they were attacked.
- SOUTHCOM says it immediately notified the U.S. Coast Guard to activate search and rescue efforts, though it has not said whether those who went overboard were rescued.
- The Pentagon’s tally is updated to 33 known boat strikes and at least 110 deaths since early September, per Trump administration figures.
- The article explicitly links renewed use of the Coast Guard for SAR to criticism over an earlier September strike in which U.S. forces killed survivors in a follow-up attack on a disabled boat.
- It reiterates the CIA’s role in a recent drone strike on a Venezuelan dock used by alleged cartels, framing it as the first known direct U.S. operation on Venezuelan soil since the maritime campaign began.
10:14 PM
US military destroys narco-terror convoy of three vessels at sea in kinetic strikes
New information:
- Joint Task Force Southern Spear conducted overnight kinetic strikes against a convoy of three narco-trafficking vessels in international waters, at the direction of Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, as confirmed by U.S. Southern Command.
- Intelligence reportedly confirmed an at-sea transfer of drugs between the three boats before U.S. forces engaged.
- Three individuals aboard the first vessel were killed in the initial engagement; personnel on the other two boats abandoned ship before follow-on strikes sank both vessels.
- SOUTHCOM says the vessels were operated by designated terrorist organizations involved in narcotics trafficking and that the U.S. Coast Guard was immediately notified to activate search-and-rescue for those in the water.
- SOUTHCOM publicly released unclassified video of the Dec. 31 convoy strike and referenced an earlier Dec. 29 lethal strike that killed two suspected narco-terrorists on another vessel.
9:55 PM
Venezuela arrests more Americans as Trump ramps up pressure on Maduro: report
New information:
- The New York Times and U.S. officials say the number of American citizens arrested and held in Venezuela has risen in recent months as the Trump administration escalates efforts to isolate Nicolás Maduro.
- Venezuelan authorities have detained at least five Americans recently — three Venezuelan‑American dual nationals and two U.S. citizens with no known ties to Venezuela — and Washington is considering designating at least two of them as 'wrongfully detained.'
- The article highlights the unresolved case of James Luckey‑Lange, 28, of Staten Island, who went missing after crossing Venezuela’s southern border in early December and is among Americans currently reported missing.
- It recaps that Trump envoy Richard Grenell previously secured the release of six imprisoned Americans, that Venezuela freed a U.S. Air Force veteran (Joseph St. Clair) in May 2025, and that a July 2025 prisoner swap returned 10 more Americans and U.S. permanent residents in exchange for more than 250 Venezuelans held in El Salvador.
10:02 AM
Even as Trump Targets Boats in Strikes, Coast Guard Continues Anti-Drug Operations
New information:
- Coast Guard cutters, guided by an intelligence center in Key West, continue intercepting go‑fast boats on the same Caribbean and Pacific smuggling routes where the Pentagon is conducting lethal strikes, with seizure rates roughly unchanged from last year.
- The Coast Guard’s long‑standing operational goal on these routes is to capture suspected smugglers and feed cases into federal prosecutions that generate intelligence through plea deals, in contrast to the current military campaign’s use of deadly force.
- A February directive from Attorney General Pam Bondi instructed federal prosecutors to mostly stop bringing charges against low‑level maritime drug offenders in favor of focusing resources on higher‑level targets, leading to a sharp decline in new federal boat‑trafficking cases despite ongoing Coast Guard seizures.
- Experts and practitioners who have worked on Coast Guard cases warn that killing trafficking suspects rather than arresting them undermines intelligence collection and has negative national‑security implications, underscoring contradictions inside the administration’s approach.
- The cumulative reported death toll from the U.S. boat strike campaign is framed as "at least 107" people killed, consistent with but reinforcing earlier tallies.
7:57 AM
CIA behind strike at Venezuelan dock that Trump claims was used by drug smugglers, AP sources say
New information:
- Beyond the previously reported 30 maritime strikes, the campaign has now included at least one CIA‑run drone strike on a Venezuelan dock area on land.
- The CIA dock strike is framed as part of the same broader pressure campaign against Venezuela-linked drug cartels, which has also involved a large military buildup and a quasi‑blockade against oil tankers.
- SOCOM explicitly denies involvement in this dock operation, indicating a division of roles between military and intelligence components in the campaign.
December 30, 2025
12:37 AM
U.S. Kills 2 in Strike in Pacific, as Trump Pressures Venezuela
New information:
- Confirms the Dec. 29 eastern Pacific strike was conducted at the direction of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and targeted a boat on a 'known narco‑trafficking route.'
- Reiterates that this was the 30th U.S. maritime strike since early September and that the cumulative death toll from the campaign has reached at least 107 people.
- Provides additional context that the United States has amassed more than 15,000 troops and around a dozen warships in the Caribbean Sea, and recently announced a partial blockade of oil tankers to and from Venezuela, prompting Maduro to order naval escorts for tankers.
- Includes new on‑the‑record comments from President Trump at Mar‑a‑Lago describing a 'major explosion in the dock area' where boats are loaded with drugs, saying the U.S. hit 'all the boats' and then 'the area' along a shoreline, while declining to specify where, how, or by whom the alleged dock strike occurred.
- Highlights that legal experts and members of Congress are characterizing the maritime campaign as involving extrajudicial killings and potentially war crimes, sharpening the description of legal concerns around the strikes.
12:10 AM
U.S. military conducts 30th strike on alleged drug boat, killing 2
New information:
- Confirms via U.S. Southern Command that the Dec. 29 strike targeted a vessel 'operated by Designated Terrorist Organizations in international waters' along 'known narco‑trafficking routes' and that SOUTHCOM labels the dead as 'two male narco‑terrorists.'
- Raises the cumulative confirmed death toll from the campaign to 107 people, slightly higher than the 'at least 106' figure previously reported.
- Details the administration’s legal justification that the U.S. is in a 'non‑international armed conflict' with cartels as the basis for the boat‑strike campaign.
- Reports that President Trump said earlier Monday that the U.S. 'knocked out' a 'big facility' and an 'implementation area' at a dock where drug boats load, describing a 'major explosion in the dock area,' and notes that The New York Times reported he was referring to a drug facility in Venezuela (unconfirmed by the Pentagon).
- Notes continuing criticism from congressional Democrats and some Republicans who argue the strikes lack congressional authorization and that evidence the vessels were carrying drugs has not been sufficiently provided, as well as objections from the Colombian and Venezuelan governments.
December 29, 2025
11:49 PM
U.S. military carries out 30th strike on alleged drug boat
New information:
- Confirms via U.S. Southern Command social‑media announcement that the 30th strike targeted a boat in the eastern Pacific and killed two people.
- Specifies that Southern Command asserted the vessel 'was engaged in narco‑trafficking operations' while providing no evidence to support the claim.
- Provides AP‑described video details of the latest strike showing a boat moving through the water before being hit by two explosions.
- Repeats Trump’s same‑day public remark that the U.S. 'hit' a dock facility in Venezuela 'where they load the boats up with drugs,' framing it as a 'major explosion in the dock area,' while noting the White House and Pentagon have offered no further details.
- Notes that the initial September attack included a follow‑up strike that killed two survivors clinging to wreckage, a fact fueling congressional scrutiny of the campaign.
11:25 PM
US military kills 2 narco-terrorists in Eastern Pacific strike operation targeting vessel
New information:
- SOUTHCOM says Joint Task Force Southern Spear carried out a lethal kinetic strike on Dec. 29 on a vessel operated by designated terrorist organizations in international waters in the Eastern Pacific.
- The Dec. 29 strike killed two male individuals described by SOUTHCOM as 'narco-terrorists'; no U.S. forces were harmed.
- SOUTHCOM now counts this as the 30th strike since Sept. 2, bringing the total number of people killed in the campaign to at least 106.
December 23, 2025
3:27 PM
U.S. kills one person in another strike on alleged drug-smuggling boat, military says
New information:
- CBS piece confirms U.S. Southern Command publicly announced another strike on an alleged drug-smuggling boat in the Pacific Ocean, with one person killed.
- Reiterates that this is an additional maritime strike under the same operational pattern already described for Operation Southern Spear.
2:42 PM
U.S. strikes another alleged drug-smuggling boat in eastern Pacific, killing 1 person
New information:
- U.S. Southern Command confirms a new strike on a 'low-profile vessel' in the Eastern Pacific, killing one person.
- SOUTHCOM says intelligence indicated the vessel was transiting along 'known narco-trafficking routes' and engaged in drug smuggling, though it publicly provides no evidence.
- Video released by SOUTHCOM of this latest strike shows salvos around the vessel, a fire at the rear and then the craft adrift in flames, with impacts less clearly missile-like than earlier videos.
- Article reiterates that at least 105 people have been killed in 29 known U.S. boat strikes since early September, updating/lending precision to the campaign’s casualty and strike count.
- Story notes continued scrutiny from U.S. lawmakers and human rights activists accusing the administration of conducting extrajudicial killings without sufficient proof targets are smugglers.
December 19, 2025
4:07 AM
U.S. strikes 2 more alleged drug boats, bringing total death count to over 100
New information:
- Updates the casualty count from the U.S. boat‑strike campaign to 104 people killed since Sept. 2, refining earlier estimates of at least 83 killed.
- Specifies that the two most recent boats were in the Eastern Pacific, not Caribbean waters, and that they were along 'known narco‑trafficking routes'.
- Reinforces that the Trump administration is framing the campaign as part of a 'non‑international armed conflict' with drug cartels while President Trump publicly considers expanding targets to land‑based drug sites.
December 17, 2025
12:14 AM
Trump orders oil tankers blockade in Venezuela, labels Maduro regime a "terrorist" group
New information:
- Trump claims 'the largest Armada ever assembled in the History of South America' is surrounding Venezuela.
- New U.S. step: a blockade order targeting sanctioned oil tankers, paired with labeling the regime 'terrorist'.
December 16, 2025
7:58 PM
Graham issues 'fatal' warning if Maduro stays in power as US buildup raises stakes
New information:
- Lawmakers disclosed or referenced a U.S. deployment of about 15,000 troops tied to the regional operation and questioned whether the mission extends beyond counter‑narcotics.
- House Foreign Affairs ranking member Rep. Gregory Meeks said he will bring forward legislation addressing the strikes and any potential move against Venezuela, highlighting War Powers issues.
- Sen. Lindsey Graham publicly argued Maduro must be removed to avoid a 'fatal' blow to U.S. credibility after the U.S. show of force.
December 10, 2025
10:49 PM
Trump warns Colombian President Gustavo Petro he will ‘be next’ amid drug trafficking rift
New information:
- President Trump issued a direct warning that Colombian President Gustavo Petro "will be next" if he "doesn't wise up," calling Petro "hostile" to the U.S.
- Trump characterized Colombia as a "major" drug producer and said he has not spoken with Petro.
- Article reiterates Petro’s response to U.S. strikes, including his halt to intelligence sharing and criticism that some of those killed were poor fishermen.
2:40 AM
US deploys fighter jets to Gulf of Venezuela in closest known approach yet, amid rising tension
New information:
- New U.S. fighter-jet sortie over the Gulf of Venezuela brought aircraft closer to Venezuelan airspace than prior bomber flights.
- U.S. official characterized the flight as routine training and a demonstration of reach, remaining in international airspace.
December 06, 2025
11:28 PM
Hegseth hints major defense spending increase, reveals new details on Trump’s anti-narcoterrorism operations
New information:
- Hegseth confirms he initially centralized authority for the first strike before delegating future decisions to Adm. Bradley.
- He characterizes the campaign as 'more than 20' strikes targeting a designated terrorist organization across the Caribbean.
- Describes the intelligence build‑up period and asset reorientation preceding the Sept. 2 strike.
November 30, 2025
8:03 AM
Schumer accuses Trump of pushing US toward ‘foreign war’ with Venezuela
New information:
- Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer warned Trump is pushing the U.S. 'closer and closer to another costly foreign war' with Venezuela and emphasized Congress has not authorized force.
- Schumer called for bipartisan pushback to reassert Congress’s constitutional power to declare war.
- Article reiterates Trump’s recent 'airspace closed' post and Thanksgiving remark that the U.S. will 'very soon' begin stopping suspected Venezuelan traffickers 'by land,' and notes Pete Hegseth’s public defense of the lethal maritime strikes.
November 26, 2025
11:17 PM
Dominican Republic grants U.S. access to restricted areas for its fight against drug trafficking
New information:
- Contrasting earlier allied friction, the Dominican Republic publicly steps up cooperation by granting U.S. access to restricted areas for refueling and patrol support.
- Details specific host facilities (San Isidro Air Base, Las Américas International Airport) and capabilities (KC-135 aerial refueling, C-130 support), indicating expanded operational basing for the campaign.
November 24, 2025
9:59 PM
Scoop: Trump ready to talk with Maduro over Venezuela drug strikes
New information:
- White House officials emphasize continued focus on boat strikes and signal no imminent land operation or targeted capture/kill of Maduro.
- New figures: 21 maritime missile strikes with at least 83 killed to date under Operation Southern Spear.
- Gen. Dan Caine’s role highlighted and his Monday visit to Puerto Rico with up to 10,000 U.S. personnel noted.
- Administration framing: Southern Spear is officially drug interdiction but also exerts regime‑change pressure.
November 23, 2025
2:00 PM
CBS News poll finds most would oppose U.S. military action in Venezuela
New information:
- New CBS/YouGov polling shows most Americans oppose potential U.S. military action in Venezuela and doubt it would reduce drug inflows.
- Just over half approve of current U.S. maritime strikes on suspected drug boats, but demand evidence that drugs are present.
- Polling indicates only limited public awareness of the U.S. buildup, with about one in five having heard a lot about it.
November 20, 2025
2:22 AM
Coast Guard admiral, DEA administrator defend strikes on alleged drug boats
New information:
- USCG Adm. Nathan Moore says Coast Guard has seen 'no noticeable difference' in cocaine flow, routes, pace, or purity despite U.S. strikes.
- DEA Administrator Terry Cole counters that strikes are raising cocaine prices 30%–45% per kilogram, including at first stops (Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Honduras).
- USCG Cutter Stone offloaded nearly 50,000 pounds of cocaine at Port Everglades, a record haul for a single cutter deployment, valued at over $360 million.
- Officials cite tighter intel integration and autonomous surveillance tools as factors in recent seizure surge.
- Cole dismisses concerns that strikes have weakened intelligence sharing with allies.
November 19, 2025
6:51 PM
Boat strikes off Venezuela mark shift in 54-year US war on drugs
New information:
- The United Kingdom has suspended some intelligence-sharing with the U.S. in response to U.S. strikes on suspected drug-smuggling boats near Venezuela.
- Colombia’s decertification as a U.S. drug-control partner was finalized last month, with an estimated loss of over $100 million per year in anti-trafficking and security funds (per Michael Weintraub, Universidad de los Andes).
- Expert assessment (Renata Keller) that potential U.S. military action inside Venezuela would mark a decisive break from the cooperative model of the drug war and likely provoke regional backlash.
November 18, 2025
5:33 AM
Trump leaves military action against Venezuela on the table but floats possible talks
New information:
- Trump said he 'probably would talk to' Maduro but is not ruling out U.S. military action against Venezuela.
- Maduro responded hours later that he is open to dialogue with the Trump administration.
- Article underscores the U.S. carrier USS Gerald R. Ford’s presence and ongoing maritime strikes as the backdrop for Trump's remarks.
November 17, 2025
10:15 PM
Trump floats possible talks with Venezuela but leaves military action on the table
New information:
- Trump said on Nov. 17 he "doesn’t rule out" military action against Venezuela and "probably would talk to" Nicolás Maduro.
- The White House posture is framed alongside the recent or impending designation of the Cartel de los Soles as a terrorist organization.
- PBS/AP reiterates the USS Gerald R. Ford CSG arrived in the Caribbean over the weekend as U.S. strikes on suspected drug boats continue.
1:52 AM
Trump Says U.S. May Hold Talks With Venezuela’s Maduro
New information:
- President Trump said the U.S. may hold talks with Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, adding “They would like to talk.”
- The comment came Sunday evening as questions mount in Congress about U.S. maritime strikes on suspected drug boats.
November 15, 2025
5:00 PM
U.S. Boat Strikes Are Straining the Counterdrug Alliance
New information:
- France condemned the U.S. boat strikes as breaching international law.
- Mexico escalated concerns by summoning the U.S. ambassador.
- Canada and the Netherlands clarified they are not participating in the strikes.
November 13, 2025
7:15 PM
Colombia's president calls Trump a 'barbarian' in rift over drug vessel strikes: report
New information:
- Gustavo Petro called President Trump a “barbarian” in an NBC News interview published Thursday.
- Petro said Colombia would not pass intelligence because it would be “collaborating with a crime against humanity.”
- A White House official told Fox News Digital that Trump views Petro as “an illegal drug leader” and defended the strikes under the President’s commander‑in‑chief and foreign‑relations authority.
- Secretary of State Marco Rubio denied reports the U.K. curtailed intelligence sharing over the maritime strikes and said the counter‑drug operation continues.
- Rubio added the EU does not determine international law for U.S. national security decisions and that operations could stop if drug boats cease.
November 12, 2025
4:00 PM
Venezuela launches huge military exercise as U.S. Navy draws near
New information:
- Venezuela launched a nationwide exercise involving roughly 200,000 troops and land, air and sea assets (referred to as 'Plan Independencia 200').
- Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino accused the U.S. of 'executing' suspects at sea and vowed Venezuelans would defend the nation 'to the death' if attacked.
- Colombian President Gustavo Petro ordered a halt to Colombia’s intelligence sharing with the U.S. so long as the maritime missile strikes continue.