Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has asserted that Venezuela holds 5,000 Russian-made Igla-S anti-aircraft missiles in key defense positions, escalating tensions as U.S. President Donald Trump threatens to expand military operations into the country under the guise of combating drug trafficking.
On Wednesday, October 23, 2025, Maduro made this declaration during a televised event with military personnel broadcast by Venezolana de Televisión, emphasizing the deployment of these missiles across Venezuela’s territory, from mountains to cities. He stated, ‘Any military force in the world knows the power of the Igla-S and Venezuela has no less than 5,000,’ highlighting their widespread distribution in key air defense positions.
The Igla-S missiles are portable, short-range systems similar to American Stingers, capable of targeting helicopters, low-flying aircraft, drones, and cruise missiles. According to Rosoboronexport, the Russian state exporter, they have a range of up to 6,000 meters and can reach targets at a maximum altitude of 3,500 meters, making them effective for low-altitude defense.
Concurrently, the U.S. has deployed 4,500 Marines and sailors to the Caribbean to strengthen counter-drug operations and demonstrate military power. This deployment has included several lethal strikes on boats alleged to be trafficking narcotics, though these actions have drawn bipartisan scrutiny from U.S. lawmakers questioning their legality.
Last week, Trump announced that he authorized the CIA to conduct covert action in Venezuela and is considering expanding military campaigns to land-based operations. ‘We are certainly looking at land now, because we’ve got the sea very well under control,’ the president told reporters, as part of an intensifying pressure campaign aimed at ousting Maduro.
The Trump administration has been quietly laying the groundwork for potential military intervention for months, by linking Maduro to drug traffickers and cartels designated as terror groups that pose an imminent threat to the U.S. However, sources indicate that the goal is to pressure Maduro to step down voluntarily through credible threats of force, rather than direct military engagement.
In response, Maduro has repositioned troops and mobilized what he claims are over 8 million reservists in volunteer militias, though experts have raised doubts about the accuracy of these numbers and the quality of training. In a televised speech last week, Maduro declared that Venezuelans are ‘clear, united, and aware’ and have the means to defeat this ‘open conspiracy against the peace and stability of Venezuela.’
While CNN has not independently verified the number of Igla-S missiles, they are known to be part of Venezuela’s arsenal, as confirmed by the International Institute for Strategic Studies. Venezuela’s defense minister, Vladimir Padrino, has been photographed with the launchers, and inquiries to relevant defense departments are ongoing. The situation highlights heightened geopolitical tensions, with potential implications for regional security and ongoing U.S.-Venezuela relations, as both sides escalate without a clear path to resolution.