🔗 Share this article US Military Targeted a 'Big Plant' in Venezuela, Trump Asserted Lacking Providing Details. Ex-President Trump has stated that American military assets struck a "large installation" in Venezuela recently. However, the former president did not specify the exact nature or site of the strike, and officials have issued no additional clarification from his camp. Vague Comments Offered During a Radio Interview "We just eliminated – I'm not sure if you read – they have a major complex, where the vessels depart from. Recently, we knocked that out. So we struck them with significant force," Trump allegedly informed GOP supporter and businessman John Catsimatidis on Friday. Potential Significance of a Confirmed Attack Should a American military action were to be confirmed, it would mark the initial ground target hit since the Pentagon began a expansion of US military presence in the region to halt drug traffickers that the former administration alleges operate under the direction of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. This initial purpose of the force deployment has evolved into a blockade aimed at hindering the nation's crude oil shipments. Social Media Footage and Administration Claims Trump has for some time warned that American military units are poised to widen the operations by striking objectives within Venezuela, a move that would in theory require congressional authorization. Video footage circulated on social media on 24 December purportedly showed an explosion reportedly from an industrial area in Zulia state. But, the footage or the facility has not been corroborated. An official from Trump's team allegedly informed a news network that the president was referring to a drug facility in his comments. Response and Ongoing Strategic Posture The Venezuelan government has not commented on the alleged strike Trump described. Additionally, there have been no independent reports from within the country about it. The buildup of US military in the area – a stance certain officials have called a naval quarantine – represents the broadest naval operation of Trump's presidency. Administration officials have stopped short from calling the operation as a full blockade, but have stated that about 15,000 service members are stationed across the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf, including a carrier strike group, F-35 aircraft, and Coast Guard cutters to uphold current sanctions.