Random News and Notes 23 November
A couple of days ago, the FAA issued a NOTAM (notice to airmen) warning of potential military activity in the Venezuelan flight information region. As a watcher of such things, the thought occurred that military action was imminent, then it changed to this is a warning shot when nothing happened. Then there are the Venezuelans themselves. The local air defense commanders are likely on a hair trigger. While VZ doesn’t have the latest air defense systems, they do have goodly numbers of MANPADS and a Russian S300 system. At least one short range Buk system has been delivered in recent days.
Some air carriers are taking the warning seriously. At least 6 airlines have cancelled all flights in, to and from Venezuelan Airspace. The State Department’s FTO designation for Maduro’s Cartel de los Soles goes into effect tomorrow.
In another VZ related note, the WaPo is reporting that the Trump Administration is considering a leaflet drop over Caracas. The leaflets are supposedly publicizing a $50 million reward for information leading to Maduro’s arrest.
I haven’t seen any reports of drops yet, but there will be updates if it goes down.
The IDF carried out targeted strikes in Lebanon overnight. The target was Ali Tabatabai, the Hezbollah Chief of Staff. It was the first strike in Beirut since June.
The strike marks an escalation in Israeli-Hezbollah tensions despite a year-long ceasefire. Israel and the U.S. are pressuring Lebanon to disarm Hezbollah by year’s end, while the group is rebuilding military capabilities in southern Lebanon.
The IDF confirmed they got Tabatabai in the strike just as I was going to publish.
