Report Says CIA Conducted Drone Strike on Venezuelan Port Facility
Strike Reported Along Venezuelan Coast
The CIA carried out a drone strike earlier this month on a port facility along Venezuela’s coast, according to a report by CNN published on Monday. Sources familiar with the matter said the operation marked the first known US strike on a target inside Venezuela.
Target Linked to Drug Trafficking
According to the report, the strike hit a remote dock that US officials believed Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua used to store drugs and move them onto boats for export. However, sources said no one was present at the site at the time of the attack, and the strike caused no casualties.
US Military Support
The sources added that US Special Operations Forces provided intelligence support for the operation. However, officials did not publicly confirm which agency carried out the strike.
Trump’s Earlier Comments
Last week, President Donald Trump said the United States had recently struck a “large plant or facility” linked to drug trafficking, though he did not name the location. He later told reporters that a major explosion had destroyed a dock area where drug shipments were loaded onto vessels.
Trump declined to identify the agency responsible for the operation. He said he knew who carried it out but chose not to disclose the information.
Diplomatic Context
When asked about his recent contact with Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, Trump said he had spoken with him “pretty recently” but described the conversation as unproductive.
Broader Regional Campaign
The reported strike comes as the US has increased military operations in the Caribbean Sea and the eastern Pacific since September, citing efforts to disrupt narcotics trafficking networks.
At the same time, Washington has intensified pressure on Venezuela through oil tanker blockades, vessel seizures, and a stronger military presence near its waters. Venezuelan officials have criticized these actions, calling them violations of international law.
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