Accusing what he called “the illegitimate Maduro Regime” of having stolen “oil, land, and other assets,” from the United States and using the ill-gotten gains to finance “drug terrorism, human trafficking,

Around 12 U.S. warships and 30-50 aircraft positioned off Venezuela highlight the scale of Washington’s military operation.

U.S. President Donald Trump late Tuesday announced what he called a “total and complete blockade” of sanctioned oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuela, a dramatic escalation that lawmakers, legal experts, and anti war advocates described as an act of war carried out without congressional authorization.

President Trump on Tuesday called for a "total and complete blockade" on all sanctioned oil tankers that enter or depart Venezuela, as the administration heaps pressure on Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.

President Donald Trump ramped up pressure on Venezuela on Tuesday by announcing that he is ordering a blockade of all “sanctioned oil tankers ” entering and leaving the South American country.