🔗 Share this article US Forces Struck a 'Large Plant' in Venezuela, Trump Asserted Lacking Providing Details. Ex-President Trump has asserted that US military assets targeted a "large installation" in the South American country in recent days. Yet, the ex-leader offered no details on the precise purpose or location of the strike, and there has been no additional clarification from his camp. Unspecific Remarks Offered In a Radio Interview "US forces just eliminated – I don't know if you read – they have a large facility, where the ships depart from. Two nights ago, we destroyed it. So we struck them with significant force," Trump allegedly told Republican donor and supermarket owner John Catsimatidis in a recent interview. Potential Significance of a Confirmed Attack Should a American military action is confirmed, it would mark the first ground target hit since the Pentagon began a expansion of American strike forces in the Caribbean region to disrupt drug traffickers that the Trump administration asserts operate under the authority of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro. This stated mission of the military buildup has transformed into a blockade aimed at disrupting the country's oil exports. Social Media Footage and Administration Claims Trump has for some time indicated that US forces are prepared to expand the operations by striking objectives within Venezuela, a move that would in theory require legislative approval. Video footage posted online on 24 December purportedly showed an explosion allegedly from an industrial zone in a Venezuelan state. However, the footage or the facility has not been corroborated. An official from Trump's team reportedly informed a media outlet that the former president was referring to a drug facility in his remarks. Reaction and Ongoing Military Situation The Caracas administration has issued no statement on the incident the former president referenced. Additionally, there have been no corroborating news from within the country regarding it. The deployment of American forces in the area – a stance certain officials have termed a naval quarantine – constitutes the broadest maritime enforcement action of Trump's presidency. Administration officials have stopped short from labeling the operation as a full blockade, but have confirmed that around 15,000 troops are deployed across the Caribbean and the Gulf, including a aircraft carrier group, F-35 aircraft, and law enforcement vessels to uphold existing economic sanctions.