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. government alleges is used for loading vessels involved in drug trafficking.

Trump addressed the situation while meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Florida, stating 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 illicit activities.

The Venezuelan government has condemned the strike as a violation of international law and an act of aggression against its sovereignty. In a statement released by the Venezuelan Foreign Ministry, officials denied the U.S. allegations and accused the Trump administration of fabricating evidence to justify military intervention. "This is a blatant act of aggression based on unfounded accusations," the statement read. "Venezuela reserves the right to respond to this violation of its sovereignty."

The strike in Venezuela follows President Trump's recent announcement of a "blockade" on all sanctioned oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuela. This action, initiated in December 2025, has further strained relations between the two countries. A U.S. Coast Guard interception of a Panama-flagged tanker, the Centuries, east of Barbados, occurred shortly after the blockade announcement.

The U.S. military also conducted strikes in the Pacific this week, reportedly killing two individuals. While the Pentagon has not released specific details about these operations, sources indicate they were related to ongoing efforts to counter illegal activities in the region.

Iran has warned of a severe response following what it describes as Trump's "new strikes threat," raising concerns about potential escalation of conflicts in the Middle East and elsewhere. The Iranian government has not specified the nature of its response.

This latest military action in Venezuela brings the total number of countries where the U.S. military has conducted acknowledged strikes under the Trump administration in 2025 to two, with operations also occurring in an unspecified location in the Pacific. The White House has defended the actions as necessary to protect U.S. national security interests and combat illegal activities. Critics, however, argue that these strikes lack proper authorization from Congress and risk further destabilizing the region. The situation remains tense, and further developments are expected as both Venezuela and its allies consider their next steps.