Ex-President Donald Trump has claimed that American forces hit a "large installation" in Venezuela recently. But, the ex-leader did not specify the exact purpose or location of the strike, and officials have issued no additional comment from his administration.
Vague Remarks Made In a Radio Show
"We just eliminated – I don't know if you heard – they have a major complex, where the vessels come from. Two nights ago, we destroyed it. So we hit them very hard," Trump allegedly informed Republican donor and supermarket owner John Catsimatidis on Friday.
Possible Implications of a Confirmed Strike
If a American military action is confirmed, it would constitute the initial ground target hit since the Pentagon began a buildup of US strike forces in the region to halt narco-trafficking operations that the former administration claims operate under the orders of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro.
The initial purpose of the force deployment has evolved into a blockade aimed at disrupting the country's crude oil shipments.
Online Video and Official Statements
Trump has for weeks indicated that US forces are poised to expand the military campaign by hitting objectives within Venezuela, a tactic that would in theory require congressional approval.
Video footage posted on social media on 24 December appeared to show an detonation allegedly from an industrial area in a Venezuelan state. Yet, the video or the site in question has not been corroborated.
An official from Trump's team allegedly told a media outlet that the president was describing a drug facility in his comments.
Response and Ongoing Military Situation
The Venezuelan government has issued no statement on the event Trump described. Furthermore, there have been no corroborating news from Venezuela about it.
The buildup of US military in the area – a stance some have termed a naval quarantine – marks the largest naval operation of the Trump era.
Sources have stopped short from labeling the action as a blockade, but have confirmed that about 15,000 troops are stationed across the Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico, including a aircraft carrier group, F-35 aircraft, and law enforcement vessels to implement existing economic sanctions.
