Though an alleged but unproven claim that the Maduro government was involved in a narco‑conspiracy has been pushed as the main driver of the strike, which a senior Venezuelan official said left at least 80 dead, and which critics say violated both international and U.S. law. U.S. President Donald Trump also cited Venezuela's energy resources in justifying the operation.
Trump has said he would “run” the country’s oil operations for an unspecified period and has begun discussions with American oil companies about operating them.
“We’re going to be taking a tremendous amount of wealth out of the ground,” he said following the U.S. attack.
