Escalating U.S. military involvement in Venezuela took a new turn this week following former President Trump’s disclosure of a recently conducted operation targeting a suspected drug trafficking facility [[1]]. The confirmation of a ground-based strike,occurring reportedly on December 24th,follows months of heightened tensions and an increased U.S. naval presence in the Caribbean [[2]]. Details remain scarce, with neither the White House nor Pentagon offering official comment, but the move signals a potential escalation of pressure on the Maduro government amid ongoing U.S. efforts to counter illicit activities and influence the political landscape in the region [[3]].
Former President Donald Trump revealed during a radio interview that the U.S. military eliminated a “big plant” used for shipping, sparking questions about the scope of ongoing operations against Venezuela. The disclosure, made during a conversation with radio host John Catsimatidis on WABC, came to light Sunday and appears to confirm a ground-based operation following months of escalating threats against the Maduro government.
Trump’s comments came while discussing Venezuela, stating, “They had a big plant or a big installation from which the boats were leaving. We took it out two nights ago.” Neither the White House nor the Pentagon has released details about the operation, which reportedly occurred on December 24th.
The former president’s remarks followed questioning about Operation Southern Lance, a U.S. military campaign launched in September targeting vessels allegedly involved in drug trafficking. That operation has been linked to over 100 extrajudicial killings of crew members, and has also included the interception of two Venezuelan oil tankers. If confirmed, the destruction of the “big plant” would represent a third phase of escalating U.S. involvement on Venezuelan soil.
Trump did not specify the location of the facility, nor did he definitively state it was located in Venezuela. U.S. officials have declined to provide further information, including the target’s location, the details of the operation, or the plant’s role in drug trafficking. While Venezuela is involved in the flow of cocaine into the United States, it does not contribute to the production or shipment of fentanyl, the opioid driving the nation’s overdose crisis. The majority of illegal fentanyl originates in Mexico and China.
Several high-ranking U.S. officials have corroborated Trump’s account, telling The New York Times that the targeted facility was indeed a drug trafficking operation. However, they offered no additional details. The CIA and the White House both declined to comment on the matter. The lack of transparency surrounding the operation has raised questions about its legality and potential consequences.
Notably, the Venezuelan government has not publicly acknowledged the alleged attack, and limited information has emerged from the ground. This silence has fueled speculation about the extent of the operation and its impact.
Washington’s military operations against Venezuela, backed by an unprecedented naval deployment in the Caribbean, are widely understood to be aimed at increasing pressure on President Nicolás Maduro and potentially forcing a regime change. The move underscores the U.S. government’s long-standing efforts to influence political outcomes in the region.
The U.S. has also recently signaled interest in Venezuela’s oil reserves. On December 10th, the military intercepted the Skipper, a cargo ship sanctioned by the Department of Commerce, carrying 1.9 million barrels of crude oil. Trump stated last week that the intention was to seize the cargo.
Trump had previously indicated that a “second phase” of operations, involving ground attacks, was under consideration. He has acknowledged authorizing the CIA to plan covert actions in Venezuela months ago, though the nature of those actions remained unclear. It remains uncertain whether the alleged attack on the facility on Christmas Eve marks the beginning of this new phase of pressure against the Maduro government.
