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Ex-President Donald Trump has asserted that American forces struck a "large plant" in Venezuela last week. However, the ex-leader offered no details on the precise nature or site of the strike, and officials have issued no additional comment from his team.

Unspecific Comments Offered During a Radio Show

"US forces just knocked out – I'm not sure if you heard – they have a major complex, where the ships depart from. Two nights ago, we took it out. So we targeted them very hard," Trump reportedly informed Republican donor and businessman John Catsimatidis in a recent interview.

Potential Significance of a Confirmed Attack

If a US strike were to be verified, it would mark the initial ground target hit since the Pentagon initiated a increase of American strike forces in the Caribbean region to interdict narco-trafficking operations that the Trump administration claims operate under the authority of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.

This stated purpose of the military buildup has evolved into a quarantine aimed at disrupting the nation's crude oil shipments.

Online Footage and Official Statements

Trump has for some time stated that American military units are ready to expand the operations by striking objectives inside Venezuela, a strategy that would theoretically require congressional approval.

Video footage circulated on social media on 24 December appeared to show an explosion reportedly from an industrial area in Zulia state. But, the video or the site in question has not been independently verified.

An official from Trump's team reportedly told a media outlet that the president was referring to a narco-trafficking site in his comments.

Reaction and Current Military Situation

The Caracas administration has not commented on the alleged strike Trump referenced. Furthermore, there have been no independent reports from within the country concerning it.

The buildup of US military in the region – a position certain officials have called a sea blockade – constitutes the largest maritime enforcement action of the Trump era.

Sources have refrained from calling the action as a full blockade, but have stated that about 15,000 service members are deployed across the Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico, including a aircraft carrier group, advanced fighter jets, and law enforcement vessels to uphold existing economic sanctions.