🔗 Share this article US Military Struck a 'Large Complex' in Venezuela, President Trump Stated Without Providing Specifics. Ex-President Trump has claimed that US forces struck a "large facility" in the South American country last week. But, the ex-leader offered no details on the precise nature or site of the target, and there has been no additional clarification from his team. Unspecific Comments Made During a Radio Show "We just eliminated – I don't know if you heard – they have a big plant, where the vessels come from. Recently, we took it out. So we hit them with significant force," Trump allegedly informed GOP supporter and supermarket owner John Catsimatidis on Friday. Possible Significance of a Verified Strike If a US strike is confirmed, it would represent the initial land strike since the US Department of Defense initiated a expansion of American strike forces in the region to disrupt drug traffickers that the former administration claims operate under the authority of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. This stated objective of the force deployment has since morphed into a blockade aimed at disrupting the country's oil exports. Social Media Video and Administration Statements Trump has for weeks warned that American military units are prepared to widen the military campaign by striking objectives inside Venezuela, a move that would in theory require legislative approval. A clip circulated on social media on 24 December purportedly showed an detonation said to be from an industrial zone in a Venezuelan state. However, the video or the facility has not been independently verified. An source reportedly informed a media outlet that the former president was referring to a narco-trafficking site in his comments. Reaction and Current Military Situation The Venezuelan government has remained silent on the incident the former president referenced. Additionally, 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 referred to as a sea blockade – constitutes the most expansive maritime enforcement action of Trump's presidency. Officials have refrained from calling the operation as a blockade, but have confirmed that about 15,000 personnel are stationed across the Caribbean and the Gulf, including a carrier strike group, F-35 aircraft, and law enforcement vessels to implement current sanctions.