🔗 Share this article US Forces Struck a 'Large Facility' in the Venezuelan nation, President Trump Asserted Without Providing Details. Former President Trump has stated that US military assets hit a "large plant" in the South American country last week. But, the ex-leader withheld information about the precise purpose or site of the strike, and officials have issued no additional clarification from his team. Unspecific Comments Offered During a Radio Interview "We just eliminated – I'm not sure if you read – they have a large facility, where the vessels depart from. Two nights ago, we destroyed it. So we hit them very hard," Trump reportedly informed GOP supporter and businessman John Catsimatidis in a recent interview. Possible Significance of a Confirmed Strike Should a US military action is verified, it would constitute the initial land strike since the US Department of Defense began a buildup of US strike forces in the Caribbean region to disrupt narco-trafficking operations that the former administration asserts operate under the orders of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro. The original mission of the military buildup has evolved into a quarantine aimed at disrupting the nation's crude oil shipments. Social Media Footage and Administration Claims Trump has for some time indicated that US forces are poised to expand the operations by striking targets inside Venezuela, a strategy that would in theory require congressional approval. Online video circulated online on 24 December seemed to depict an explosion allegedly from an industrial area in a Venezuelan state. But, the footage or the facility has not been corroborated. An source allegedly informed a media outlet that the president was describing a drug facility in his comments. Response and Current Military Posture The Maduro government has issued no statement on the incident Trump referenced. Furthermore, there have been no verified accounts from Venezuela concerning it. The deployment of American forces in the region – a stance certain officials have referred to as a naval quarantine – represents the largest maritime enforcement action of Trump's presidency. Administration officials have refrained from labeling the action as a blockade, but have confirmed that about 15,000 troops are stationed across the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf, including a carrier strike group, F-35 aircraft, and law enforcement vessels to enforce current sanctions.