The U.S. launching strikes within Venezuela is looking increasingly likely as the Trump administration continues to bolster the buildup of military assets in the region, turning up the pressure against Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, whom U.S. officials have characterized as an "illegitimate leader.”

The administration has identified military facilities in Venezuela used to smuggle narcotics as potential targets for the attack, although President Trump has not made a final decision on whether to carry out strikes inside the South American country, The Wall Street Journal reported Thursday night. Potential targets under consideration are military-controlled airports and ports, including airstrips and naval facilities, the outlet reported, citing one U.S. official.

When asked on Friday if he is considering strikes in Venezuela and if he has made up his mind, Trump denied it.

“No. It’s not true,” the president told reporters aboard Air Force One while en route to Florida.

“We are certainly looking at land now because we’ve got the sea under control,” Trump said at the White House earlier this month when discussing if he was looking at ground strikes in Venezuela.

The administration has taken a more aggressive approach toward the South American country in recent months, blowing up alleged drug-trafficking boats off the coast of Caracas, doubling the Justice Department’s (DOJ) reward for information leading to an arrest of Maduro to $50 million and dispatching military assets in the region, including recently directing the USS Gerald R. Ford, the........

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