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Former President Donald Trump has asserted that US military assets targeted a "significant installation" in Venezuela last week. However, the former president did not specify the exact nature or site of the strike, and there has been no further comment from his team.

Unspecific Remarks Made During a Radio Interview

"US forces just eliminated – I'm not sure if you saw – they have a major complex, where the vessels depart from. Two nights ago, we knocked that out. So we hit them very hard," Trump reportedly said to Republican donor and businessman John Catsimatidis on Friday.

Potential Significance of a Confirmed Strike

If a US military action is verified, it would represent the initial attack on Venezuelan soil since the US Department of Defense initiated a buildup of American strike forces in the Caribbean region to halt narco-trafficking operations that the Trump administration claims operate under the authority of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro.

The original mission of the military buildup has transformed into a blockade aimed at disrupting the nation's crude oil shipments.

Online Footage and Official Statements

Trump has for some time stated that American military units are prepared to expand the operations by hitting targets within Venezuela, a tactic that would theoretically require legislative authorization.

Online video posted on social media on 24 December appeared to show an explosion allegedly from an industrial area in Zulia state. However, the video or the site in question has not been confirmed by third parties.

An source allegedly informed a media outlet that the former president was describing a drug facility in his remarks.

Reaction and Ongoing Military Situation

The Venezuelan government has not commented on the event Trump referenced. Additionally, there have been no corroborating news from Venezuela concerning it.

The buildup of US military in the region – a position some have referred to as a sea blockade – represents the largest naval operation of his time in office.

Administration officials have stopped short from describing the operation as a full blockade, but have acknowledged that about 15,000 troops are positioned across the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico, including a aircraft carrier group, F-35 aircraft, and Coast Guard cutters to implement existing sanctions.