U.S. Port Strike in Venezuela Attributed to CIA After Trump Cites Dock Explosion

Overview

• President Trump said U.S. forces destroyed a “large installation” at a Venezuelan dock area, describing a large explosion without providing operational details.
• CNN and the New York Times, citing U.S. officials, report the CIA conducted a drone strike earlier in December on a port allegedly used by Tren de Aragua, with no casualties reported.
• U.S. Southern Command confirmed a separate Dec. 29 lethal strike on a vessel in the eastern Pacific, saying two suspected narcoterrorists were killed.
• The Pentagon, CIA and White House declined to confirm specifics of the Venezuela operation, and Caracas has not issued a formal account of any incident.
• The action extends a pressure campaign that has included dozens of maritime strikes causing over 100 deaths and new U.S. sanctions targeting Iran–Venezuela drone dealings.