President Donald Trump confirmed he authorized the CIA to conduct covert operations in Venezuela, citing claims that Venezuela “emptied their prisons” into the U.S. and drug trafficking, and said the U.S. is “looking at land.” The admission comes amid at least five U.S. strikes on suspected drug boats in the Caribbean that killed 27 people; UN experts called them “extrajudicial executions.” Six more died near Venezuela’s coast on Tuesday. Alarmed by a reported 10,000-strong U.S. buildup, Caracas ordered exercises and mobilization as Nicolás Maduro urged “no war, yes peace” and condemned CIA-orchestrated coups.

Prepared by Lauren Mitchell and reviewed by editorial team.