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US targets Venezuelan dock in alleged drone strike
President Donald Trump confirmed a US operation struck a dock area in Venezuela tied to drug smuggling, marking what could be the first known American military action inside the country. The attack, reportedly executed by the CIA, caused a "major explosion" at a site where boats were allegedly loaded with narcotics, though no further details or location were disclosed.
Unconfirmed reports and silence from Caracas
CNN and The New York Times, citing unnamed sources, identified the strike as a CIA-led drone attack. Venezuela's government has not responded to Trump's claims, and state media has not reported any such incident. Social media speculation has circulated, but no official confirmation or evidence has emerged.
When pressed by reporters on Monday about CIA involvement, Trump declined to confirm, stating, "I don't want to say that. I know exactly who it was, but I don't want to say who it was."
Escalation in US pressure campaign
The strike represents a significant escalation in Washington's efforts to isolate President Nicolás Maduro, whom the US has labeled a "narco-terrorist." Trump has previously threatened direct military action in Venezuela, including covert operations, as part of a broader strategy to weaken Maduro's government.
Since September, the US has conducted 30 strikes on suspected drug-smuggling vessels in the Pacific and Caribbean, killing over 100 people. The most recent operation, on Monday, targeted two individuals described as "narco-terrorists" in the eastern Pacific, according to US Southern Command. However, no evidence has been provided to substantiate claims that the boats carried drugs, and the identities of those killed remain largely undisclosed, except for two survivors-a Colombian and an Ecuadorean national.
Trump signals shift in strategy
In his remarks, Trump suggested the dock strike marked a new phase in the campaign against Venezuela. "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," he said, without specifying the location.
The Pentagon redirected inquiries to the White House, which has yet to comment. Unlike previous strikes on drug boats-where the Pentagon released images and videos-no visual evidence of the dock incident has been shared.
Venezuela's role in drug trafficking questioned
The Trump administration has framed its operations as part of a fight against fentanyl and cocaine trafficking, though experts note Venezuela plays a minor role in global drug flows. Most fentanyl enters the US via Mexico's land border, while Venezuela primarily serves as a transit point for drugs produced elsewhere.
Washington has also intensified economic pressure on Caracas, deploying naval forces to the Caribbean and seizing sanctioned oil tankers. The US accuses Maduro's government of using oil revenues to fund criminal activities and has designated it a "Foreign Terrorist Organisation." In recent weeks, US forces intercepted two oil tankers and pursued a third.
"The seizures are piracy," Venezuela's government responded, accusing the US of attempting to exploit the country's oil reserves-home to the world's largest proven deposits.
Maduro has long alleged that the US uses its "war on drugs" as a pretext to overthrow his government. When asked last week if the seizures aimed to force his resignation, Trump replied, "Well, I think it probably would... That's up to him what he wants to do. I think it'd be smart for him to do that. But again, we're gonna find out."
