US ‘not at war’ in Venezuela, Johnson says after briefing with top officials

Speaker says Trump not looking to take control militarily as Democrats say briefing raises more questions than answers

The United States is not at war" in Venezuela, the Republican speaker of the House Mike Johnson said on Monday, despite the weekend raid Donald Trump ordered to capture president Nicolas Maduro and announcement that the US would now run" the country.

The surprise incursion came after months of mounting US pressure on Venezuela, which has included a blockade of some oil shipments and airstrikes on vessels off its shores that have killed at least 110 people.