The United States on Friday imposed sanctions on family members and associates of Nicolas Maduro and his wife, as Washington ratchets up pressure on the Venezuelan president.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio reiterated Washington’s stance that Venezuela is governed by an “illegitimate regime,” rejecting Nicolás Maduro’s authority and calling last year’s election “stolen.” Asked whether opposition figures Maria Corina Machado and Edmundo González are heirs apparent,

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio decried the “status quo” with the Maduro government as “intolerable” as the Trump administration on Friday announced new sanctions on family members of the embattled Venezuelan leader.

Israel's strikes on Hezbollah are driving the terror group to expand operations in Venezuela, creating new security threats closer to U.S. borders.

Colombian President Gustavo Petro rejected an appeal by Venezuela's Nicolás Maduro for Colombia's military to join forces with the neighboring country, saying Maduro "has no right to give orders to the military.