🔗 Share this article US Forces Struck a 'Major Plant' in Venezuela, President Trump Claimed Lacking Offering Specifics. Ex-President Donald Trump has stated that US forces struck a "large facility" in Venezuela last week. Yet, the former president withheld information about the exact nature or location of the strike, and officials have issued no further clarification from his administration. Vague Remarks Offered During a Talk Show "US forces just destroyed – I don't know if you saw – they have a large facility, where the ships come from. The other night, we destroyed it. So we targeted them with significant force," Trump reportedly informed GOP supporter and businessman John Catsimatidis in a recent interview. Possible Implications of a Verified Strike Should a US military action were to be verified, it would represent the first ground target hit since the Pentagon began a buildup of US strike forces in the region to halt drug traffickers that the former administration alleges operate under the authority of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. This original purpose of the military buildup has transformed into a quarantine aimed at stopping the country's oil exports. Social Media Footage and Official Claims Trump has for weeks indicated that US forces are prepared to escalate the operations by hitting targets within Venezuela, a move that would theoretically require congressional authorization. A clip circulated on social media on 24 December appeared to show an blast reportedly from an industrial zone in Zulia state. However, the footage or the facility has not been corroborated. An official from Trump's team allegedly informed a media outlet that the president was describing a narco-trafficking site in his remarks. Reaction and Ongoing Strategic Posture The Maduro government has not commented on the alleged strike the former president referenced. Furthermore, there have been no independent reports from Venezuela about it. The deployment of US military in the region – a position certain officials have called a sea blockade – constitutes the most expansive maritime enforcement action of Trump's presidency. Sources have stopped short from calling the action as a blockade, but have acknowledged that around 15,000 service members are positioned across the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico, including a carrier strike group, F-35 aircraft, and Coast Guard cutters to implement current sanctions.