PALM BEACH, Fla. — President Donald Trump has revealed that United States forces targeted a dock facility along Venezuela’s shoreline as part of an intensified pressure campaign against narcotics trafficking networks. The disclosure came during an exchange with reporters on Monday while meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Florida.
Trump described the targeted site as a major implementation zone where vessels suspected of transporting illicit drugs were loaded. “There was a major explosion in the dock area where they load the boats up with drugs,” the president stated. “They load the boats up with drugs, so we hit all the boats and now we hit the area.”
The operation represents a significant escalation in the Trump administration’s anti-narcotics initiative, marking a transition from intercepting vessels in international waters to conducting strikes on coastal infrastructure. This strategic shift aligns with Trump’s repeated warnings about potential land-based operations in South America targeting drug cartels.
According to administration figures, U.S. forces have conducted at least 30 strikes since early September, resulting in 107 casualties. Just on Monday, the military reported another strike in the eastern Pacific Ocean that killed two individuals aboard a suspected drug-smuggling vessel.
Despite Trump’s assertions, the administration provided limited operational details. The president declined to specify whether U.S. military or CIA assets executed the dock strike or confirm its precise location within Venezuela. “I know exactly who it was, but I don’t want to say who it was,” Trump remarked during the briefing.
The Pentagon redirected inquiries to the White House, which had not responded to requests for clarification at the time of reporting. Venezuelan government officials similarly remained silent regarding Trump’s claims.
This escalation occurs alongside other pressure measures including naval deployments, regional military buildup, and the seizure of oil tankers. Administration officials characterize these actions as part of an “armed conflict” with drug cartels aimed at stemming narcotics flow into the United States.
Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro maintains that the true objective behind U.S. operations is regime change. This perspective finds support in recent comments by White House chief of staff Susie Wiles, who told Vanity Fair that Trump intends to continue military actions until Maduro ‘cries uncle.’