As U.S. warships and troops gather in the Caribbean, Mr. Maduro threatened an “armed fight” in response to any military action. He also appealed for peace.

The Trump administration is warning would-be drug traffickers that they will meet the same fate as those killed in a boat the U.S blew up Tuesday in the southern Caribbean, a dramatic escalation in the drug war and the White House's bitter feud with Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro.

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro says his country is at "maximum preparedness" to respond if attacked by U.S. forces in the Caribbean.

The U.S. is deploying 3 guided-missile destroyers to waters off Venezuela as part of President Trump's effort to combat threats from Latin American cartels.

The U.S. has deployed ships, a submarine, and air assets, already striking illicit shipments as tensions with Venezuela rise.