After the U.S. warned of "increasing military activity," Iberia and other airlines have canceled their flights to Venezuela.

Flights to Caracas this Saturday have also been canceled by TAP, Avianca, and Gol. The U.S. FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) has issued an alert regarding a potential "risky situation" for flights over Venezuela. Meanwhile, uncertainty persists about the Trump Administration's next actions toward the nation, after the aircraft carrier Gerald Ford joined the extensive U.S. naval deployment near Venezuelan territorial waters to participate in what the United States calls Operation Southern Spear against drug trafficking. U.S. sources told Reuters that the start of a new phase could be soon, although its details are unclear. Gol, Avianca, Iberia, and TAP have announced the cancellation of their flights to Caracas this Saturday. Although Reuters mentions four high-ranking officials, the exact date and precise scope of the new phase of operations, which would begin in the coming days, remain unknown. According to two sources, this phase could begin with covert missions. Two other sources indicated that one of the objectives being considered is the overthrow of Nicolás Maduro. In February, the State Department added several drug cartels, including the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua, to its list of international terrorist organizations. Washington argues that it is at war with these groups and that their members are enemy combatants to justify its military campaign against drugs, which so far has consisted of targeting alleged speedboats.