Trump Claims US Forces Struck Facility in Venezuela Amid Regional Military Buildup
Former President Trump claimed that US forces struck a large facility in Venezuela last week, stating it was knocked out two nights prior to his remarks. No details on the exact location or the nature of the facility were provided, and the White House has not issued any comments regarding the strike.
If confirmed, this would mark the first land strike on Venezuelan territory since the Pentagon initiated a regional military buildup aimed initially at interdicting drug traffickers under Nicolás Maduro's government.
The stated purpose of the military buildup has recently shifted toward implementing a blockade designed to disrupt Venezuela's oil exports, which are reportedly handled via a global shadow fleet. Chevron is described as the only licensed exporter of Venezuelan oil amid these developments.
Experts have criticized Trump's oil-related claims as part of a broader strategy of "resource imperialism." Trump has also warned that he is prepared to expand military actions with strikes inside Venezuela, which would require congressional authorization.
Video footage posted on December 24 allegedly shows an explosion in the San Francisco municipality of Zulia state in Venezuela. However, this footage has not been independently verified. The administration says Trump described the targeted location as a drug facility in his remarks.
The ongoing maritime enforcement action around Venezuela is described by the White House as a maritime quarantine. It represents the most expansive military action of Trump's presidency, involving approximately 15,000 personnel deployed across the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico. This includes a carrier strike group and F-35 fighter jets.
