Donald Trump claimed U.S. forces struck a "big facility" in Venezuela last week, though he provided no specifics regarding the target's nature or location. Speaking at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Palm Beach, Florida, on Friday, Trump told Republican donor John Catsimatidis, "We just knocked out I don't know if you read or you saw they have a big plant, or a big facility, where the ships come from. Two nights ago, we knocked that out. So we hit them very hard." The White House has not issued any further comments on the alleged strike.

If confirmed, this would represent the first U.S. land strike on Venezuelan soil since the Pentagon began increasing its strike force presence in the region, purportedly to combat drug trafficking, according to the Trump administration's stated objectives at the time. The claim comes amid ongoing tensions between the U.S. and Venezuela, marked by economic sanctions and diplomatic disputes.

The lack of official confirmation from the U.S. government raises questions about the veracity of Trump's statement. The Pentagon typically acknowledges military operations, though details are often withheld for security reasons. The absence of any such acknowledgement suggests the claim may be unsubstantiated or related to a covert operation.

The U.S. has historically maintained a complex relationship with Venezuela, particularly concerning its oil reserves and political stability. Previous administrations have accused the Venezuelan government of corruption, human rights abuses, and involvement in drug trafficking. These accusations have led to various sanctions and diplomatic pressures aimed at influencing Venezuelan policy.

At present, the situation remains unclear. Without further information from official sources, it is impossible to verify the details of the alleged strike or assess its potential impact on U.S.-Venezuelan relations. Further developments are contingent on either official confirmation or a retraction of the claim.