Venezuelan minister alleges: Targets of US boat strike were not from narco-terrorist gang

"We're ready for an armed fight, if it's necessary," Maduro said from Ciudad Caribia, on the country's central coast, in an early morning broadcast on state television where he was flanked by his defense minister.

"Along all the Venezuelan coasts, from the border with Colombia to the east of the country, from north to south and east to west, we have a full preparation of official troops," he said.

Reuters witnesses in several cities around Venezuela did not note an increase in troop presence.