As the US flew supersonic B-1 bombers near the coast of Venezuela on Thursday, the South American country's president, Nicolas Maduro, prayed for peace.

"Yes peace, yes peace forever, peace forever. No crazy war, please!," the Venezuelan President was quoted as saying during a meeting with unions.

Maduro's comment comes at a time when US President Donald Trump has upped the ante on Venezuela, authorizing covert action by the CIA and military strikes against what he says are drug traffickers in the Caribbean and Pacific.

Escalating regional tensions

While Trump has denied sending B-1 bombers to the Venezuelan coast, he has hinted at a possible escalation.

"We're not happy with them [Venezuela]," the US President told reporters on Thursday, but added: "We're not going to necessarily a

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