Venezuelan Minister Threatens GOP Rep. Over Pressure From Trump Admin: 'This Is a Dumb One'

Top Venezuelan official Diosdado Cabello made a threat to Republican Rep. Carlos Gimenez as tensions between their countries continue to escalate.

Cabello, Interior Minister in the Maduro regime, reacted to a recent social media publication from Gimenez, who has been vocally advocating for the Trump administration to oust the Maduro regime.

"No one is getting tired hire. For those who had any doubts: this is until the end," read Gimenez's publication from October 10. Cabello responded in his TV show, saying: "This is a dumb one. Disembark wherever you want. You come first."

Cabello has taken a leading role in the regime's combative stance against the Trump administration's pressure campaign, which includes the deployment of some 10,000 troops in the Caribbean and at least six strikes against alleged drug vessels.

Earlier this week he said he received messages from other militaries in the region offering their support in the conflict. "We have received (messages) from military forces from countries whose governments are not necessarily close to us," he added. "So indigenous people and military and police forces from other countries will come to Venezuela to support this nation," Cabello said.

During the same allocution, Cabello said the regime will take all international help it can get to counter what he described as an "aggression" from Washington.

"If we haven't made the call publicly to the peoples of the world to organize and defend our country, I take advantage of this moment to do it now. Venezuela is under aggression, so all help you can give will be welcome. You will be welcomed like brothers," Cabello said.

In the meantime, the Trump administration continues ramping up pressure on the South American country. On Thursday, the Washington Post reported that a Special Operations aviation unit has flown less than a 100 miles from Venezuela, yet another message to Caracas.

The outlet detailed that the helicopters conducted training exercises, which could lead to expanded operations against the Venezuelan regime, including inside the country. Visuals circulating on social media appear to show MH-6 Little Bird attack helicopters and MH-60 Black Hawks, the outlet added.

A U.S. official said the helicopters were conducting training flights and should not be taken as evidence of drills for a land assault into Venezuela.

However, report came a day after President Donald Trump confirmed he authorized the CIA to conduct lethal operations inside Venezuela, with officials telling The New York Times that the ultimate goal is removing authoritarian President Nicolas Maduro from power.