Trump Confirms First Known U.S. Land Operation Inside Venezuela

President Donald Trump confirmed on Monday that American forces have struck targets on Venezuelan soil, marking the first publicly acknowledged land operation inside the South American nation since Washington intensified its campaign against the government of Nicolas Maduro.

The President’s announcement represents a significant escalation in U.S. efforts to combat drug trafficking networks operating with the apparent acquiescence of the Maduro regime. Speaking to reporters, Trump described an attack on infrastructure used to load narcotics onto vessels bound for international waters.

“There was a major explosion in the dock area where they load the boats up with drugs,” the President stated. “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.”

The President declined to specify which agency executed the operation, though he indicated authorization for covert action by the Central Intelligence Agency in Venezuela. When pressed on CIA involvement, Trump responded, “I don’t want to say that. I know exactly who it was but I don’t want to say who it was.”

Neither the CIA, the White House National Security Council, nor the Pentagon has provided additional details regarding the operation. This silence is consistent with protocols surrounding covert activities, which typically preclude public acknowledgment by national security agencies.

The Venezuelan government has not issued any statement regarding the alleged strike. Notably, no independent reporting from inside Venezuela has corroborated the incident Trump described. One chemical facility in Zulia state that experienced a fire on Christmas Eve has explicitly denied any connection to the President’s comments, stating the blaze was quickly extinguished and remains under investigation by company officials.

This operation, if confirmed, would represent a departure from previous U.S. military action in the region, which has focused primarily on interdicting suspected drug trafficking vessels in international waters. The administration has documented success in these maritime operations, with the Pentagon releasing footage of multiple strikes against boats believed to be transporting illegal narcotics.

The shift toward land-based operations follows reporting last month that indicated the administration was prepared to enter a new phase of Venezuela-related activities. Officials familiar with the planning suggested covert operations would likely precede any broader military engagement with the Maduro government.

The U.S. campaign against drug trafficking in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific has generated significant congressional oversight, particularly following incidents resulting in civilian casualties. More than one hundred individuals have been killed across over twenty strikes conducted in these waters. Earlier this month, military leaders briefed lawmakers on a September incident in which an initial strike left survivors who were subsequently killed in follow-up action.

The President’s announcement raises substantial questions about the scope and future direction of American involvement in Venezuela. As the situation develops, the international community will be watching closely to see whether this represents an isolated incident or the beginning of a more extensive ground campaign against narcotics infrastructure operating under the protection of the Maduro regime.

For now, the American people are left with more questions than answers about what precisely occurred on Venezuelan soil and what it may portend for U.S. policy in the hemisphere.