Monday, 29 December 2025 02:05 PM EST
President Donald Trump announced on Monday that the United States had conducted a strike against an area in Venezuela where drug trafficking vessels are loaded, marking the first known land operation by U.S. forces in the country since a pressure campaign began targeting President Nicolas Maduro’s administration.
“There was a major explosion in the dock area where they load the boats up with drugs,” Trump stated. “We hit all the boats, and now we hit the area — it’s the implementation area.”
Trump confirmed he had recently spoken with Maduro but said, “nothing much comes of it.”
The administration did not immediately specify which U.S. agency carried out the operation or the exact target location.
Trump has previously authorized covert operations by the CIA in Venezuela. Earlier this month, he made vague comments on a radio show about an apparent U.S. strike against a “big facility” in Venezuela.
The Central Intelligence Agency, White House, and Pentagon have declined to comment on details of the operation or confirm its occurrence, citing the need for secrecy under covert operations protocols.
Venezuelan authorities have not responded to reports of the incident, and there are no independent accounts from Venezuela confirming it.
U.S. military officials have previously highlighted successes in destroying suspected drug trafficking vessels, with Pentagon social media posts showcasing strikes in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific regions. The operation has drawn scrutiny from Congress due to its focus on targeted strikes that have resulted in over 100 deaths across more than 20 incidents.
Last month, U.S. officials indicated a new phase of Venezuela-related operations was imminent as pressure on Maduro intensified. Two senior U.S. officials previously stated that covert actions would be the initial step in this escalation.
The U.S. military buildup in the Caribbean has recently reached over 15,000 troops, raising concerns about regional stability.
