President Donald Trump said Monday that the United States “hit” a dock in Venezuela where drugs were allegedly being loaded onto boats, a statement that would mark the first known land strike in the country since his administration escalated its campaign against Venezuelan drug trafficking.
Trump’s comments followed remarks he made last Friday during a radio interview on Cats and Cosby, where he said the U.S. had “knocked out” a “big facility” in Venezuela tied to drug shipments. He did not provide specific operational details.
Speaking Monday as he welcomed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to his Mar-a-Lago club, Trump was pressed by reporters on whether the strike was carried out by the U.S. military, particularly after confirming in October that he authorized the Central Intelligence Agency to operate inside Venezuela.
“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.”
If accurate, Trump’s remarks would represent the first acknowledged land-based strike inside Venezuela since his administration launched its pressure campaign against the regime of President Nicolás Maduro.
Trump has openly signaled the possibility of land action in Venezuela for weeks as the U.S. expanded its military footprint in the region. Roughly 15,000 U.S. troops and multiple warships have been positioned in the Caribbean as part of that buildup.
Earlier this month, Trump ordered what he described as a “complete blockade” of sanctioned oil tankers entering or leaving Venezuela, directly targeting the Maduro government’s primary source of revenue.
Trump has also publicly urged Maduro to step aside, warning of severe consequences if the Venezuelan leader attempts to escalate tensions.
“He can do whatever he wants, it’s alright, whatever he wants to do,” Trump said. “If he wants to do something, if he plays tough, it’ll be the last time he’s ever able to play tough.”
After meeting with Netanyahu, Trump also said he is willing to authorize new strikes on Iran if deemed necessary.
