WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump confirmed Wednesday that he authorized the CIA to conduct covert operations inside Venezuela and said he was weighing land operations in the country.

The acknowledgement of covert action in Venezuela by the U.S. spy agency comes after the U.S. military in recent weeks carried out a series of deadly strikes against alleged drug-smuggling boats in the Caribbean. U.S. forces destroyed at least five boats since early September, killing 27 people. Four of those vessels originated from Venezuela.

Asked during an event Wednesday in the Oval Office why he authorized the CIA to take action in Venezuela, Trump affirmed he made the move.

"I authorized for two reasons, really," Trump replied. "No. 1, they have emptied their prisons into the United States of Ameri

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