In a significant escalation of the pressure campaign against the government of Nicolas Maduro, former US President Donald Trump stated that the United States military targeted a key drug trafficking location within Venezuela itself. This alleged operation, if confirmed, would represent the first known instance of US forces conducting actions on Venezuelan soil as part of the ongoing effort to destabilize Maduro's regime.
Trump's Announcement and Unclear Details
Speaking on Monday, Trump revealed that the US had "hit" an area in Venezuela where boats are loaded with narcotics. He described a "major explosion in the dock area" specifically used for this purpose. "We hit all the boats, and now we hit the area... it's the implementation area," Trump said, though he provided no specific date for the incident.
The announcement, however, was met with a wall of silence from official US national security bodies. The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), the White House, and the Pentagon all declined to comment on Trump's remarks when approached by Reuters. Similarly, the Venezuelan government did not issue any statement regarding the alleged strike, and no independent reports from within Venezuela corroborated the event.
Covert Operations and a New Phase of Pressure
The lack of public confirmation has raised questions about whether this was a covert operation. Trump had previously indicated he authorized the CIA to carry out clandestine activities in Venezuela. This aligns with a Reuters report from last month which stated the US was poised to launch a new phase of Venezuela-related operations. Two US officials had suggested then that covert actions would likely be the initial step in this renewed campaign against Maduro.
This potential land-based strike marks a departure from previously publicized tactics. Until now, the US mission had primarily focused on military strikes against suspected drug trafficking vessels at sea. The Pentagon has even shared footage of such strikes on social media. These maritime operations, numbering more than 20 in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific, have resulted in over 100 fatalities and prompted intense oversight from the US Congress.
Congressional Scrutiny and Military Buildup
Lawmakers have recently been briefed on controversial aspects of these counter-narcotics missions. Earlier this month, US military leaders informed Congress about a September incident where an American strike killed 11 people. Survivors of that first strike were subsequently killed in a second strike ordered by Admiral Frank Bradley. This event led Democrats in Congress to question whether the follow-up action complied with international law.
Trump's latest comments come amidst a massive US military buildup in the Caribbean region, involving more than 15,000 troops. This context suggests a sustained and possibly intensifying effort to apply maximum pressure on the Maduro government, with the alleged strike on Venezuelan territory representing a bold and risky new tactic if verified.
