U.S. President Donald Trump said on Monday that American forces recently targeted a coastal dock in Venezuela, which he described as a key site for launching boats allegedly used to move illegal drugs. If confirmed, the incident would represent the first known U.S. action on Venezuelan soil in recent years.
Trump first referenced the strike in a radio interview on Friday, and reiterated his claims when asked by reporters following reports of an explosion in Venezuela. Speaking alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Florida, Trump said the targeted site had been used to prepare boats for drug transport.
“There was a large blast at the dock zone where the boats were prepared,” Trump said. “We intercepted the boats, then we removed the operational point. That area is no longer active.”
Trump did not provide details about who executed the operation, whether it involved the CIA or the U.S. military, or the exact location. He added only that the action occurred “along the shoreline,” and declined further clarification.
No Independent Confirmation, Venezuela Pushes Back
The Venezuelan government has not issued an official statement in response to Trump’s remarks. There have also been no verified independent reports confirming U.S. involvement in an attack on Venezuelan territory.
Caracas has consistently denied claims of state involvement in drug trafficking. Venezuelan officials say Washington’s pressure campaign is politically motivated. President Nicolás Maduro’s administration has previously accused the U.S. of attempting to influence internal stability in order to gain access to the country’s extensive oil reserves.
U.S. Strikes Extend Into the Pacific
Hours after Trump’s comments, the U.S. military confirmed that it had carried out another maritime strike in the eastern Pacific, where it intercepted a vessel allegedly linked to drug transport. Officials said two men were affected during the confrontation, describing them as individuals engaged in what the Pentagon termed “drug boat operations.”
The U.S. Southern Command said the vessel was disabled during an enforcement action, and referred to the casualties as “male suspects involved in trafficking operations.”
Broader Regional Pressure Campaign
The Trump administration has sharply increased military activity across the Caribbean and Pacific regions over the past four months, focusing on vessels suspected of drug movement. Officials have also confirmed the seizure of oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuelan waters if they were previously sanctioned under U.S. trade restrictions.
The U.S. has stationed over 15,000 personnel across 30 operations in nearby maritime regions since September 2025. According to figures shared by the White House, more than 100 casualties have been reported across 30 operations, though these numbers have not been independently verified.
Political and Legal Debate Continues
Legal experts and rights organizations have raised concerns over the lack of transparency around these operations, arguing that repeated casualty reports without public evidence or oversight create risks of escalating mistrust and instability. U.S. officials have defended the actions as enforcement measures targeting trafficking operations, not political intervention.
U.S. officials say operations may continue, but will depend on “conditions and intelligence alerts in the area.”