Key Takeaways
- The Kremlin has urged the United States and Venezuela to de-escalate tensions and avoid a new conflict in the region, following recent U.S. military strikes against alleged Venezuelan drug smugglers.
- The U.S. has deployed a significant naval presence to the Caribbean, including 16,000 troops and an aircraft carrier strike group, prompting Russia to condemn the "excessive military force" as a violation of international law.
- Israeli settlers, protected by occupation police, continue to storm the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem, performing provocative rituals amid widespread Palestinian condemnation.
- Russia reaffirmed its "firm support" for Venezuela's national sovereignty, while the Palestinian Presidency described the Al-Aqsa incursions as a "dangerous escalation" and part of an ongoing campaign against Palestinians.
Kremlin Urges Calm Amid Rising US-Venezuela Tensions
The Kremlin has called for the United States and Venezuela to prevent a new conflict from erupting in the region, emphasizing the need for a peaceful resolution to escalating tensions. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that Moscow desires "everything to remain in a peaceful context and not for fresh conflicts to arise in the region". This appeal comes in the wake of recent U.S. military strikes on alleged Venezuelan drug smugglers in the Caribbean and Pacific waters.
The U.S. has significantly increased its military presence in the Caribbean, deploying a large naval force that reportedly includes 16,000 troops, eight warships, a nuclear submarine, B-52 strategic bombers, F-35 fighter jets, and an aircraft carrier strike group led by the flagship USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78 – no direct ticker, represents a class of naval vessel).. These operations have targeted at least 14 boats and resulted in 61 deaths since September. Russia's Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova denounced these actions as "excessive military force," asserting they violate both U.S. domestic legislation and international law.
Reports from The Washington Post indicated that Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro (PSUV – no direct ticker, represents the ruling party) had sought military assistance, specifically air defenses, from Moscow. While Russia and oil-rich Venezuela recently signed a partnership agreement, it is not publicly known to include military support. The U.S. does not recognize Maduro's election and has offered a reward of up to $50 million for information leading to his arrest or conviction. Critics, including the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk, have labeled the U.S. strikes as "unacceptable" and a form of extrajudicial killing, urging a halt to such attacks. Russia has reiterated its "firm support" for Venezuela's leadership in defending its national sovereignty.
Al-Aqsa Mosque Compound Under Repeated Settler Incursions
Meanwhile, tensions continue to escalate in Jerusalem as Israeli settlers repeatedly storm the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound under the protection of Israeli occupation police. On Friday, November 1, 2025, Israeli settlers, escorted by occupation police, invaded the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound and "molested worshippers". These incursions are part of a broader, ongoing pattern that has seen over 58,310 Israeli settlers storm the holy site in the past Hebrew year (October 2, 2024, to September 22, 2025), marking a 14% increase from the previous year.
During these provocative incursions, settlers have been observed performing Talmudic rituals, dancing, chanting loudly, waving Israeli flags, and openly carrying Torah scrolls. These actions are occurring amid what the Islamic Waqf Department describes as daily violations, with state backing, as part of a structured plan to assert control over Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem. Israeli forces have also been accused of erecting multiple military checkpoints, restricting Palestinian entry, and assaulting worshippers, particularly those under 40 years of age.
The Palestinian Presidency has condemned these settler incursions as a "dangerous escalation" and a continuation of the "genocide and starvation campaign" against the Palestinian people in Gaza. Concerns are also rising over ongoing excavations by Israeli authorities around the Al-Aqsa Mosque and in Jerusalem’s Old City, which the Jerusalem Governorate warns could threaten the stability of the mosque's foundations. Furthermore, extremist "Temple" groups are openly inciting the demolition of Al-Aqsa Mosque or the Dome of the Rock to construct an alleged "Third Temple" on the site.
Ed Liston is a senior contributing editor at TheStockMarketWatch.com. An active market watcher and investor, Ed guides an independent team of experienced analysts and writes for multiple stock trader publications.