Published On 23/11/2025
|
Last update: 04:03 (Mecca time)
American officials said that the United States is preparing to launch a new phase against Venezuela in the coming days, while 6 airlines canceled their flights to Venezuela on Saturday, amid the escalation of the American military buildup in the region.
Reuters quoted this news from 4 American officials, but it did not specify the exact timing or scope of the new operations, nor whether US President Donald Trump had taken a final decision to take action.
Reports of a looming move have spread in the past few weeks, with the US military deploying forces in the Caribbean region amid deteriorating relations with Venezuela.
Two US officials said that these operations would likely be the first part of a new move targeting Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. A senior US administration official did not rule out anything regarding Venezuela.
The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said, “President Trump is ready to use every element of American power to stop the flow of drugs into our country and bring those responsible to justice.”
Maduro, who has been in power since 2013, says Trump is seeking to oust him, but Venezuela’s citizens and military will resist any such attempt.
Cancellation of flights
Meanwhile, 6 airlines canceled their flights to Venezuela on Saturday, according to the Venezuelan Airlines Association, after the US Federal Aviation Administration warned of the dangers of “increased military activity.”
The head of the Venezuelan Airlines Association, Marisela de Loaiza, said that the Spanish airlines “Iberia”, the Portuguese “TAP”, the Chilean “LATAM”, the Colombian “Avianca”, the Brazilian “GOL” and the Trinidadian “Caribbean” airlines suspended their flights to the country, without specifying the duration of the suspension.
On the other hand, the Panamanian airlines “Copa”, the Spanish “Air Europa”, “Plus Ultra”, the Turkish “Turkish Airlines”, and the Venezuelan “Lizr” airlines continue to operate their flights.
On Friday, the US Federal Aviation Administration urged civilian aircraft in Venezuelan airspace to “exercise caution” due to “the deteriorating security situation and the increase in military activity in or around Venezuela.”
“These threats may pose a potential danger to aircraft at all altitudes, including during flight, the arrival and departure phases, airports and aircraft on the ground,” she added.
Military buildup
Washington has sent aircraft carriers, other warships and stealth planes to the Caribbean region as part of what it says is an operation to combat drug trafficking, but Caracas fears that its goal is regime change in Venezuela.
The warning to the planes came just days before the inclusion of a drug cartel – allegedly led by Maduro – on the US terrorist list takes effect, in a move that some believe heralds military action against his government.
US forces have carried out strikes against more than 20 boats claiming to be transporting drugs in the Caribbean Sea since early September, killing more than 80 people.
The United States did not publish any concrete evidence proving that the boats it targeted were being used to smuggle drugs or pose a threat to the country, and regional tensions escalated as a result of this campaign and the accompanying military buildup.