U.S. media reported on Tuesday that the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) carried out a covert drone strike targeting a port facility on Venezuela’s coast.
According to CNN, citing sources, the strike occurred earlier this month but had not been previously disclosed. It targeted a remote pier along the Venezuelan coastline, which the U.S. government believes was being used by the Tren de Aragua gang to store narcotics and load them onto ships for later transport. No casualties were reported, as no one was present at the site during the strike.
On Monday, U.S. President Donald Trump announced the destruction of a major facility on Venezuelan territory during the past week.
In recent months, the United States has repeatedly used its armed forces to destroy boats suspected of transporting drugs. According to Washington, these operations aim to combat transnational crime and drug trafficking.
These actions have led to a noticeable escalation in tensions between Venezuela and the United States. The White House has authorized the CIA to conduct covert operations inside Venezuela with the goal of destabilizing President Nicolás Maduro’s government.
U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi also announced a $50 million reward for information leading to Maduro’s arrest. He is alleged to be using terrorist organizations to smuggle drugs into the United States.
President Trump stated that the U.S. is prepared to carry out strikes against drug traffickers not only at sea but also on land.
Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said Moscow is closely monitoring what she described as a deliberate escalation of tensions around its ally Venezuela. She expressed concern over the unilateral nature of these decisions, warning that they pose a threat to international maritime navigation.