Republican Rep. Sends 'Prayers' To U.S. Troops Approaching Venezuela: 'Maduro's Drug Cartel Is About To Get Annihilated'

Republican Rep. Carlos Gimenez again threatened the Maduro regime in Venezuela, saying that it is about to get "annihilated" as troops and warships approach the South American country's coast.

"America, Venezuela, & the entire hemisphere will benefit enormously from the destruction of the Cartel de los Soles," Gimenez said in a social media post.

In another publication, the lawmaker sent "prayers" to the "courageous men & women of our armed forces as they approach the coasts of Venezuela."

Gimenez has been vocally calling for the end of the Maduro regime as the presence of U.S. troops off its coast dominates the conversation in the South American country.

Maduro has spearheaded an initiative to sign up militia members, and he and other top officials have been issuing threats of their own. Among them is Vice President Delcy Rodriguez, who said that any "military aggression" would be met with fierce resistance.

"Those thinking about a military aggression to Venezuela, know it will go badly for you. It will be worse if you conduct it. We'll be your nightmare. Calm down, U.S. hawks," Rodriguez said last Friday during an event aimed at signing up people to the country's pro-government militia.

Rodriguez went on to say that the entire country is "deployed." "We are here with workers from the energetic conglomerate. The fascists continue doing the U.S.'s work to take over Venezuela's riches," she added.

A day before, Maduro said "there is no way" the country "will be breached" despite the deployment." This situation we are facing, one of harassment, siege, illegal threats that violate the UN Charter, only makes us stronger," Maduro said. He added that the armed forces are seizing the circumstance to "strengthen the nation's defense plans."

Rhetoric in the U.S. is contrasting, with some officials claiming the fall of Maduro is close and others that the whole thing is mostly saber rattling. An official told Axios that the operation could be "Noriega part 2," a reference to the 1989 military operation that ended with the capture of then-Panamanian President Manuel Noriega. He also faced U.S. drug-trafficking charges.

"The president has asked for a menu of options. And ultimately, this is the president's decision about what to do next, but Maduro should be sh---ting bricks," the official added.

Another official had a contrasting view, saying "this is 105% about narco-terrorism," even though later said that if "Maduro winds up no longer in power, no one will be crying."