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Former President Donald Trump has asserted that US forces hit a "major facility" in Venezuela recently. However, the former president offered no details on the exact purpose or location of the target, and officials have issued no additional comment from his camp.

Unspecific Remarks Made In a Talk Show

"US forces just eliminated – I don't know if you read – they have a major complex, where the ships come from. Two nights ago, we destroyed it. So we targeted them very hard," Trump allegedly said to GOP supporter and businessman John Catsimatidis on Friday.

Possible Significance of a Verified Strike

If a American strike is confirmed, it would mark the first land strike since the US Department of Defense began a increase of American strike forces in the region to halt narco-trafficking operations that the former administration alleges operate under the direction of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro.

This stated purpose of the military buildup has transformed into a quarantine aimed at stopping the nation's oil exports.

Social Media Footage and Administration Statements

Trump has for weeks indicated that American military units are ready to expand the operations by hitting objectives inside Venezuela, a strategy that would theoretically require legislative approval.

Video footage shared on social media on 24 December appeared to show an detonation allegedly from an industrial zone in Zulia state. However, the video or the facility has not been corroborated.

An administration official allegedly informed a news network that the former president was describing a narco-trafficking site in his comments.

Response and Current Military Situation

The Maduro government has not commented on the incident the former president described. Additionally, there have been no verified accounts from within the country concerning it.

The buildup of US military in the area – a stance certain officials have referred to as a maritime "quarantine" – constitutes the most expansive maritime enforcement action of Trump's presidency.

Administration officials have stopped short from calling the action as a blockade, but have confirmed that around 15,000 troops are positioned across the Caribbean and the Gulf, including a carrier strike group, advanced fighter jets, and Coast Guard cutters to enforce current economic sanctions.