At a Glance
- President Trump claims U.S. forces struck a Venezuelan dock facility, citing a major explosion.
- The strike targets boats that load drugs for smuggling into the United States.
- The attack is part of a broader campaign that has killed 105 people in 29 strikes since early September.
- Why it matters: The move signals a shift toward land-based operations in South America, raising regional security concerns.
President Donald Trump said on a radio interview and in a press meeting that U.S. forces had hit a dock facility in Venezuela, claiming a major explosion and targeting drug-smuggling boats. The statement follows a series of maritime strikes that have already claimed over a hundred lives.
Details of the Strike
Trump first mentioned the incident during a conversation with WABC radio host John Catsimatidis on Friday, describing a “major explosion in the dock area where boats load up with drugs.” He said the U.S. struck all boats and the area, calling it the implementation area that is no longer around.
He declined to confirm whether the U.S. military or the CIA carried out the strike, or whether it occurred in Venezuela, stating, “I know exactly who it was, but I don’t want to say who it was. But you know it was along the shore.”
- The strike involved a dock facility used for loading drug-smuggling boats.
- Trump said the U.S. “hit all the boats and now we hit the area.”
- The incident is part of an escalating effort to target drug-smuggling operations.
Context and Response
The U.S. has been conducting boat strikes in international waters in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific Ocean since early September, with the goal of stopping drug flow into the United States. Trump has suggested that the U.S. may soon strike on land in Venezuela or elsewhere in South America.
| Metric | Count |
|---|---|
| Strikes | 29 |
| Casualties | 105 |
The Pentagon referred questions to the White House, which did not immediately respond. Venezuela’s government press office also did not comment.
Susie Wiles stated:
> “Trump wants to keep on blowing boats up until Maduro ‘cries uncle.'”
Key Takeaways
- Trump claims a U.S. strike hit a Venezuelan dock facility.
- The attack is part of a broader drug-smuggling counter-terrorism campaign.
- The move could expand U.S. operations from sea to shore, heightening regional tensions.
The claim adds a new dimension to the U.S. war on drug cartels, potentially expanding operations from sea to shore and heightening tensions in the region.
