🔗 Share this article US Military Struck a 'Large Plant' in Venezuela, Trump Stated Without Offering Specifics. Former President Donald Trump has stated that American forces targeted a "significant plant" in the South American country last week. However, the former president withheld information about the precise purpose or location of the strike, and there has been no further comment from his team. Unspecific Comments Made During a Radio Interview "We just eliminated – I don't know if you read – they have a major complex, where the ships depart from. The other night, we destroyed it. So we hit them with significant force," Trump allegedly said to Republican donor and businessman John Catsimatidis in a recent interview. Potential Significance of a Confirmed Attack Should a American strike is confirmed, it would constitute the first attack on Venezuelan soil since the Pentagon initiated a increase of American strike forces in the Caribbean region to disrupt narco-trafficking operations that the former administration alleges operate under the orders of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro. The stated mission of the military buildup has since morphed into a blockade aimed at hindering the country's crude oil shipments. Social Media Video and Official Claims Trump has for weeks stated that US forces are ready to widen the operations by attacking objectives within Venezuela, a strategy that would theoretically require congressional authorization. Video footage circulated online on 24 December seemed to depict an detonation said to be from an industrial zone in a Venezuelan state. However, the footage or the site in question has not been corroborated. An official from Trump's team allegedly told a news network that the president was referring to a drug facility in his comments. Response and Ongoing Strategic Posture The Venezuelan government has not commented on the alleged strike Trump described. Furthermore, there have been no independent reports from within the country regarding it. The buildup of US military in the area – a posture certain officials have termed a sea blockade – represents the most expansive maritime enforcement action of Trump's presidency. Administration officials have stopped short from calling the action as a full blockade, but have acknowledged that about 15,000 troops are stationed across the Caribbean and the Gulf, including a carrier strike group, advanced fighter jets, and Coast Guard cutters to enforce existing economic sanctions.