President Donald Trump confirmed this week that the United States military struck a docking facility in Venezuela, marking the first acknowledged military action on Venezuelan land under his administration. The strike, which occurred earlier this week, targeted a facility the U.S. alleges is used to load vessels involved in drug trafficking.
Speaking to reporters during a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Florida, Trump stated that an explosion occurred at the Venezuelan facility. The U.S. had been targeting Venezuelan shipping in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific since September 2025, citing concerns over drug trafficking and sanctioned oil shipments.
The Venezuelan government has condemned the strike as a violation of international law and an act of aggression. In a statement released by the Venezuelan Foreign Ministry, officials asserted that the facility was used for civilian purposes and that the U.S. provided no evidence to support its claims of drug trafficking. They called for an immediate cessation of all U.S. military activity in the region.
This incident follows President Trump's recent announcement of a "blockade" on all sanctioned oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuela. On December 20, 2025, a U.S. Coast Guard vessel intercepted the Panama-flagged Centuries east of Barbados, further escalating tensions in the region.
The strike in Venezuela is part of a broader U.S. policy aimed at exerting pressure on the Maduro regime. The Trump administration has consistently accused the Venezuelan government of corruption, human rights abuses, and involvement in illicit activities. These accusations have been repeatedly denied by Venezuelan officials.
In addition to the Venezuelan strike, U.S. military action was also reported in the Pacific, where missiles reportedly killed two individuals. The U.S. government has not yet commented on these reports.
Iran has warned of a severe response in the wake of what it describes as Trump's new strikes threat, raising concerns about further escalation of conflict in the region. The situation remains fluid, and the potential for further military action remains a concern for regional and international observers.
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