🔗 Share this article US Forces Targeted a 'Large Facility' in the Venezuelan nation, Trump Asserted Without Providing Details. Ex-President Trump has claimed that American military assets struck a "major facility" in Venezuela in recent days. But, the former president offered no details on the exact purpose or site of the target, and officials have issued no further clarification from his camp. Vague Comments Offered In a Radio Show "We just knocked out – I don't know if you heard – they have a large facility, where the vessels depart from. Two nights ago, we took it out. So we hit them decisively," Trump reportedly told GOP supporter and businessman John Catsimatidis in a recent interview. Possible Implications of a Verified Attack Should a American strike were to be verified, it would represent the initial land strike since the US Department of Defense initiated a increase of American strike forces in the region to disrupt narco-trafficking operations that the Trump administration asserts operate under the direction of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro. This original purpose of the military buildup has transformed into a blockade aimed at stopping the nation's crude oil shipments. Online Footage and Official Claims Trump has for some time stated that US forces are poised to escalate the operations by striking targets within Venezuela, a tactic that would theoretically require congressional authorization. Online video posted online on 24 December appeared to show an detonation reportedly from an industrial area in a Venezuelan state. However, the video or the site in question has not been confirmed by third parties. An source reportedly informed a news network that the former president was referring to a narco-trafficking site in his remarks. Reaction and Current Military Posture The Venezuelan government has issued no statement on the event the former president referenced. Furthermore, there have been no verified accounts from within the country concerning it. The presence of US military in the area – a stance some have called a naval quarantine – constitutes the broadest naval operation of his time in office. Sources have avoided from calling the action as a blockade, but have stated that about 15,000 service members are positioned across the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf, including a carrier strike group, advanced fighter jets, and law enforcement vessels to uphold current economic sanctions.