Trump Claims US Strike on Venezuelan Facility Amid Military Buildup
Former President Trump claimed that US forces struck a "big facility" in Venezuela last week, though he did not specify the nature or exact location of the target. In remarks to John Catsimatidis, Trump described the target as a large plant or facility "where the ships come from," stating that the strike was "very hard." He later elaborated that the strike hit the dock area where drug-loaded boats are loaded and the implementation area, adding that the target is no longer operational.
An administration official told CNN that Trump's references were to a drug facility, but there has been no independent verification of the strike, and Venezuela's government has not commented on the reports. If confirmed, this would mark the first land strike on Venezuela since the Pentagon began increasing US strike forces in the region to interdict drug traffickers under President Nicolás Maduro.
The US military buildup around Venezuela is characterized as a maritime quarantine. Approximately 15,000 personnel are positioned across the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico, including a carrier strike group, F-35s, and Coast Guard cutters tasked with enforcing sanctions. This buildup is not officially described as a blockade. The effort's stated focus has shifted towards disrupting oil exports via a global shadow fleet, with Chevron noted as the sole licensed exporter of Venezuelan oil.
Additionally, video footage from December 24th purporting to show an explosion in the San Francisco municipality of Zulia state has circulated, though this footage has not been independently verified. The White House has not provided further comment on these events.
