US drone strike reportedly levels Tren de Aragua logistics hub in Maracaibo
US President Donald Trump has publicly confirmed a direct military strike on a target inside Venezuela, marking a historic escalation in US-led anti-narcotics operations. The announcement came Monday, December 29, ahead of a high-level meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Florida.
"A massive explosion hit the port where drug vessels were being loaded. We hit all the ships, and now we have hit the area where this activity took place. That facility no longer exists," Trump stated. These remarks follow a December 26 interview where he first hinted at neutralizing a "major objective."
Conflicting reports on the ground
While the Pentagon and CIA have declined to comment, local reports from Maracaibo initially attributed a large blast at the Primazol Insumos Químicos chemical plant to an electrical fault. However, the Trump administration's statements suggest a deliberate kinetic operation against transnational crime infrastructure.
According to CNN investigations, a CIA-operated drone targeted an isolated port facility used by the Tren de Aragua criminal syndicate. The operation reportedly destroyed storage units used for maritime drug transfers without resulting in any known casualties.
A shift in military engagement
This operation represents a significant departure from previous US tactics, which were strictly limited to intercepting narco-vessels in international waters. Previous maritime seizures have consistently drawn sharp diplomatic protests from the Caracas administration.
Although the White House has not specified which military or intelligence branch executed the strike, the public confirmation by the President signals a new doctrine of direct intervention against regional security threats within sovereign Venezuelan territory.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
