🔗 Share this article US Military Struck a 'Big Facility' in Venezuela, Trump Claimed Without Offering Specifics. Former President Donald Trump has stated that US forces targeted a "large plant" in the South American country recently. However, the former president offered no details on the precise nature or site of the target, and officials have issued no further comment from his administration. Vague Comments Made In a Talk Show "US forces just destroyed – I don't know if you saw – they have a large facility, where the ships depart from. Two nights ago, we destroyed it. So we targeted them decisively," Trump allegedly told Republican donor and businessman John Catsimatidis on Friday. Possible Implications of a Verified Strike If a US military action were to be verified, it would mark the first ground target hit since the US Department of Defense began a buildup of American military presence in the region to disrupt narco-trafficking operations that the former administration claims operate under the authority of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. This original purpose of the military buildup has evolved into a blockade aimed at disrupting the nation's crude oil shipments. Online Video and Administration Claims Trump has for weeks indicated that American military units are ready to escalate the operations by striking targets inside Venezuela, a move that would in theory require legislative approval. Online video circulated on social media on 24 December seemed to depict an detonation reportedly from an industrial zone in a Venezuelan state. But, the video or the site in question has not been corroborated. An official from Trump's team reportedly told a news network that the president was referring to a narco-trafficking site in his comments. Reaction and Current Strategic Posture The Maduro government has remained silent on the incident Trump referenced. Furthermore, there have been no verified accounts from within the country about it. The deployment of US military in the area – a position certain officials have termed a sea blockade – represents the broadest maritime enforcement action of his time in office. Administration officials have refrained from labeling the action as a blockade, but have stated that approximately 15,000 personnel are deployed across the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico, including a aircraft carrier group, advanced fighter jets, and law enforcement vessels to enforce existing sanctions.