Trump Claims U.S. Strike on Drug Facility in Venezuela
President Donald Trump said in a radio interview that the U.S. “knocked out” a “big facility” apparently linked to Venezuela, signaling a possible escalation in Washington’s campaign against narco-terrorism.
Trump did not confirm whether the attack occurred in Venezuela or which U.S. agency carried it out.
Asked by a reporter on Monday whether the U.S. military conducted the attack, Trump said: “Well, it doesn’t matter, but there was a major explosion in the dock area, where they load the boats up with drugs.”
If verified, it would mark the first known land strike in months of U.S. operations targeting alleged drug boats in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific. It comes weeks after Trump said the U.S. will “very soon” take action against Venezuelan drug traffickers on land.
The Pentagon and Venezuelan officials have yet to respond to Trump’s announcement.
Meanwhile, the U.S. Southern Command announced on social media Monday that under the direction of War Secretary Pete Hegseth, the military carried out a strike on a boat in the Eastern Pacific, killing two people.
The post stated that the vessel was “operated by Designated Terrorist Organizations,” and that “intelligence confirmed the vessel was transiting along known narco-trafficking routes” and “engaged in narco-trafficking operations.”
The strike marks the 30th known U.S. military strike against suspected narco-trafficking vessels since early September, bringing the reported death toll to roughly 106.
