Secretary of War Pete Hegseth speaks at a defense conference in Fort Wayne, Indiana on Wednesday. Top right is an image of the USS Gerald R. Ford carrier strike group. 2025.11.12. [Screenshot from Axios]

According to multiple sources familiar with a White House meeting, senior military officials presented President Trump on Wednesday with updated options for potential operations in Venezuela, including ground assaults, CBS News reported on the 13th.

Sources said that Army Secretary Pete Hegseth, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan Cain, and other senior officials briefed the president on military options for the coming days.

However, two sources told CBS News that no final decision has been made yet.

A White House spokesperson declined to comment, and a Pentagon spokesperson refused to provide further information.

Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard was not present as she was returning from an overseas trip, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio was also absent, attending the G7 Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Canada.

The USS Gerald R. Ford carrier strike group entered the U.S. Southern Command area this week, joining destroyers, aircraft, and special operations forces already deployed in the region.

U.S. forces have conducted at least 21 airstrikes against drug-carrying vessels in the past two months. At least 80 suspected smugglers have been killed, and two survivors have been sent to Ecuador and Colombia.

Secretary of War Hegseth alluded to the operation at a defense conference in Fort Wayne, Indiana, on Wednesday, stating that the United States would target individuals identified as foreign terrorists or traffickers. He added that the military has extensive experience in tracking such networks.

On this day, Secretary Hegseth unveiled the "10 Principles of the American Golden Age War" that the Trump administration and the Department of War are focusing on:

1. America First

2. Peace Through Strength

3. Common Sense

4. Revive the Warrior Spirit

5. Rebuild the Military

6. Re-establish Deterrence

7. Defend the Homeland

8. Deter China

9. Enhance Burden-Sharing Among Allies

10. Revitalize the Defense Industrial Base

According to Axios, President Trump recently directed the administration to expand briefings on its counternarcotics operations to Congress, following lawmakers' demands for a clear explanation of recent maritime strikes.

President Trump told his staff that he would ensure Congress was fully informed about all information, stating that the airstrikes were a top national security priority.

By Sung Ku Hong, Chief Reporter, NNP / Special Correspondent for this paper NNP info@newsandpost.com