π Share this article US Military Struck a 'Major Facility' in the Venezuelan nation, President Trump Claimed Lacking Providing Specifics. Ex-President Trump has claimed that US forces hit a "large installation" in Venezuela in recent days. But, the ex-leader withheld information about the precise nature or location of the strike, and officials have issued no further comment from his camp. Vague Remarks Made In a Radio Interview "We just knocked out β I don't know if you heard β they have a large facility, where the ships originate. Recently, we knocked that out. So we targeted them with significant force," Trump reportedly said to Republican donor and businessman John Catsimatidis in a recent interview. Potential Significance of a Verified Strike Should a American military action is confirmed, it would mark the first ground target hit since the US Department of Defense initiated a increase of US military presence in the region to disrupt narco-trafficking operations that the Trump administration alleges operate under the orders of Venezuelan President NicolΓ‘s Maduro. The initial objective of the force deployment has evolved into a quarantine aimed at hindering the country's crude oil shipments. Online Footage and Official Claims Trump has for some time stated that American military units are prepared to expand the operations by hitting objectives inside Venezuela, a move that would in theory require congressional approval. A clip circulated on social media on 24 December purportedly showed an explosion allegedly from an industrial area in Zulia state. Yet, the video or the facility has not been corroborated. An source reportedly told a media outlet that the former president was describing a narco-trafficking site in his remarks. Reaction and Ongoing Strategic Situation The Venezuelan government has remained silent on the event the former president referenced. Additionally, there have been no corroborating news from within the country concerning it. The buildup of US military in the region β a position certain officials have termed a naval quarantine β constitutes the broadest maritime enforcement action of Trump's presidency. Officials have refrained from describing the operation as a full blockade, but have acknowledged that approximately 15,000 troops are stationed across the Caribbean and the Gulf, including a aircraft carrier group, advanced fighter jets, and law enforcement vessels to implement current economic sanctions.