Venezuela Braces for Potential U.S. Ground Operation as Tensions Escalate
CARACAS – Venezuelan President Nicolรกs Maduro has mobilized 4.5 million militia forces, preparing to defend against a potential military intervention following escalating tensions with theโข united States. This comes amid heightened U.S. naval activity off Venezuela’s coast,ostensibly targetingโข drug smuggling,which caracas and international observers haveโ condemned as violations of international law.
Maduro has publicly warned of โฃdeploying “thousands” of Russian-made Igla-S short-range anti-aircraft missiles across โฃVenezuela’sโค strategic defense areas. “All military forces in the world know the power โof Igla-S, and Venezuela hasโค more than 5 thousand of them,” maduro stated in a speech to army personnel, adding the missiles are positioned in “the most extreme mountain, the most extreme town andโ the mostโค extreme city of the country.”
The deployment follows increased U.S. military operations โฃin the Caribbean,prompting Maduro to bolster Venezuela’sโค military โpresence in the region.
The situationโ reflects a long-standing political crisis in Venezuela,marked by international disputes over theโข legitimacy of Maduro’s government and accusationsโ of human rights abuses. The U.S. has previously recognizedโ opposition leader Juan Guaidรณ as the interim president, and has imposed sanctions on Venezuela โaimed at forcing Maduro from power.