The US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) struck a port facility located off the coast of Venezuela with a drone strike earlier this month.
Medianews.az reports that the news was published by CNN channel citing its sources.
The channel emphasizes that this is the first known attack carried out by the US on Venezuelan territory.
During the previously undisclosed operation, a remote pier off the coast of Venezuela was targeted. The US government believes that the facility was used by Venezuela’s notorious “Tren de Aragua” criminal group to store narcotics and later transport them by ships. According to the information, no one was present at the site during the strike and no casualties were recorded.
Although two sources told CNN that the US Special Operations Forces provided intelligence support during the operation, a spokesperson for the Special Operations Command denied this to the channel. According to him, “Special Operations Forces were not involved in this operation, including providing intelligence support.”
US President Donald Trump hinted at the attack for the first time in a little-noticed interview given on December 26 last week. However, despite journalists’ direct questions this week, he did not disclose details regarding the incident.
Analysts believe that this strike could further escalate tensions between the US and Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. Washington has long been increasing military pressure to force Maduro out of power.
So far, the US has destroyed more than 30 boats in the Caribbean basin and the eastern Pacific Ocean within the framework of its “anti-narcotics campaign.” At the same time, Trump has ordered a blockade against sanctioned oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuela. Trump has previously threatened Venezuela with possible strikes on its territory. However, until this month’s attack carried out by the CIA, known US strikes concerning Venezuela were only against vessels suspected of drug trafficking in international waters.
The CIA declined to comment to CNN about the incident.
In the December 26 interview, when discussing the campaign against Venezuela, Donald Trump said they “destroyed a large facility where boats refueled.” A few days later, revisiting the issue, Trump stated that the US struck the “port area where drug-loaded boats were prepared,” but did not clarify whether the operation was conducted by the CIA or the military forces.
“We destroyed all the boats, then we struck the area where they were refueled,” Trump said. He added that the port no longer exists.
Although one source said the strike destroyed the target and was successful in that regard, the operation was largely regarded as a symbolic step. This is because there are many port facilities used for narcotics trafficking from Venezuela. It is reported that the attack did not cause serious real-time resonance inside the country either.
