🔗 Share this article American Military Targeted a 'Big Plant' in the Venezuelan nation, President Trump Claimed Without Offering Details. Ex-President Trump has claimed that American military assets struck a "major plant" in Venezuela recently. But, the former president offered no details on the precise nature or location of the target, and there has been no additional comment from his administration. Vague Comments Offered During a Radio Show "US forces just destroyed – I'm not sure if you heard – they have a big plant, where the vessels depart from. The other night, we took it out. So we targeted them decisively," Trump reportedly told Republican donor and businessman John Catsimatidis in a recent interview. Possible Implications of a Confirmed Strike Should a US military action were to be confirmed, it would mark the initial attack on Venezuelan soil since the US Department of Defense began a expansion of US military presence in the Caribbean region to halt narco-trafficking operations that the former administration alleges operate under the orders of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. This initial purpose of the force deployment has since morphed into a quarantine aimed at disrupting the country's crude oil shipments. Online Video and Official Claims Trump has for some time warned that American military units are ready to escalate the operations by attacking objectives within Venezuela, a move that would in theory require legislative authorization. Online video shared online on 24 December appeared to show an detonation reportedly from an industrial zone in Zulia state. Yet, the video or the site in question has not been independently verified. An source allegedly informed a news network that the former president was describing a narco-trafficking site in his comments. Response and Ongoing Strategic Situation The Maduro government has not commented on the event Trump referenced. Additionally, there have been no verified accounts from within the country concerning it. The presence of American forces in the area – a position some have referred to as a sea blockade – represents the most expansive maritime enforcement action of Trump's presidency. Officials have stopped short from calling the action as a full blockade, but have confirmed that about 15,000 personnel are positioned across the Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico, including a carrier strike group, advanced fighter jets, and law enforcement vessels to uphold existing economic sanctions.