President Donald Trump has said the US has carried out a strike on a dock area linked to alleged Venezuelan drug boats.
Speaking to reporters in Florida, Trump highlighted a major explosion from last week at the site used for drug operations but did not clarify the location or whether US military or CIA forces were involved.
The Venezuelan government has yet to respond, leaving questions about the jurisdiction of the strike unanswered. Since September, the US has focused on targeting drug-smuggling boats, claiming over 20 vessels, predominantly from Venezuela, have been destroyed in the Pacific and Caribbean, resulting in at least 100 casualties.
The latest strike, mentioned on Monday, reportedly killed two narco-terrorists in a lethal kinetic strike in the eastern Pacific.
Trump has indicated a willingness for more aggressive operations in Venezuela and previously authorized covert CIA actions aiming to pressure President Nicolás Maduro's regime.
When pressed about CIA involvement in the recent attack, Trump stated, I don't want to say that. I know exactly who it was, but I don't want to say who it was. He noted, We hit all the boats, and now we hit the area... it's the implementation area. That's where they implement, and that is no longer around.
Previously, Trump described a separate operation against a large facility during a radio interview, revealing little information.
The Pentagon redirected inquiries about the strike to the White House, which has not yet released a statement. Notably, images confirming previous strikes on drug boats have not been shared regarding this dock incident.
The Trump administration perceives strikes on vessels as attacks against terrorists trafficking illegal drugs into the US. The US has mobilized 15,000 troops along with various naval assets, including the USS Gerald Ford, to the Caribbean region. This deployment is the most extensive since the Panama invasion in 1989, aimed to curb the influx of fentanyl and cocaine.
Trump previously accused Venezuela of funding drug-related crimes with oil revenues, while Maduro rejects these claims, asserting that such actions by the US are designed to undermine his government and seize control of Venezuela’s oil reserves.
While asked if the seizures aimed to topple Maduro, Trump stated, Well, I think it probably would... That's up to him what he wants to do. I think it'd be smart for him to do that. But again, we're gonna find out.
