US President Donald Trump said the United States has “hit” a dock in Venezuela allegedly used to load drugs onto boats, marking what could be the first known US land attack in the country during his administration’s campaign against drug trafficking, as ABC News reported.
Trump made the remarks after saying in a radio interview last week that the US had “knocked out” a “big facility” in Venezuela linked to alleged drug operations. He did not provide operational details.
“And we just knocked out, I don’t know if you read or you saw, they have a big plant or a big facility where they send the, you know, where the ships come from. Two nights ago we knocked that out, so we hit them very hard,” Trump said on WABC’s Cats and Cosby.
If accurate, the comments would signal the first known land-based strike in Venezuela since the administration began targeting alleged drug routes and vessels in the region.
On Monday, as Trump welcomed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to his Mar-a-Lago club, reporters asked whether the strike was carried out by the US military. Trump declined to clarify.
“Well, it doesn’t matter, but there was a major explosion in the dock area where they load the boats up with drugs,” Trump said. “They load the boats up with drugs. So we hit all the boats and now we hit the area. It’s the implementation area. That’s where they implement. And that is no longer around.”
ABC News said it contacted the Pentagon and the White House for comment. The Pentagon referred inquiries to the White House. The CIA declined to comment.
Trump has suggested possible land action in Venezuela for weeks. The US has also increased its military presence in the region, with about 15,000 troops and several warships positioned in the Caribbean.
Earlier this month, Trump ordered what he described as a “complete blockade” of sanctioned oil tankers moving in and out of Venezuela. The move targets the government’s main source of revenue. Trump has also intensified pressure on President Nicolas Maduro, saying last week it would be “smart” for him to step down.
“He can do whatever he wants, it’s alright, whatever he wants to do. If he wants to do something, if he plays tough, it’ll be the last time he’s ever able to play tough,” Trump said.
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