The United States has carried out a targeted strike on a facility in Venezuela, as confirmed by President Donald Trump. Trump revealed during an interview with Republican donor John Catsimatidis on his WAB radio show that a significant plant or facility linked to shipping operations was hit in a recent operation. Although specific details were not provided, Trump emphasized the severity of the strike, stating, “Two nights ago, we knocked that out… So we hit them very hard.”
This action is part of President Trump’s ongoing pressure campaign against Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, which has been intensifying over the past four months. The campaign initially aimed to combat the flow of illegal drugs from Venezuela but has since expanded. Trump issued a warning to Maduro, asserting that any further defiance from the Venezuelan leader would have severe consequences.
As part of the pressure campaign, the US has also been involved in the seizure of oil tankers. Recently, Venezuela’s parliament passed a measure criminalizing activities that could disrupt navigation and commerce in the country, following the seizure of Venezuelan oil tankers by US forces in international waters. These tankers were allegedly part of a fleet used by Venezuela to circumvent US economic sanctions.
While Venezuela has criticized the US for its actions, some countries, including Panama and Argentina, have supported the US stance. Opposition figures within Venezuela, including Nobel Peace laureate María Corina Machado, have endorsed Trump’s policies towards the country, including the seizure of tankers. Both Machado and Trump have expressed confidence in the imminent downfall of Maduro’s regime.
Maduro, who was indicted on narcoterrorism charges in the US in 2020, has been accused of leading the Cartel de los Soles, which was labeled a foreign terrorist organization by the Trump administration. The term “Cartel de los Soles” originated in the 1990s to describe senior military officials profiting from drug trafficking, with corruption spreading to other branches of government and illegal activities such as mining and fuel smuggling.
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