The New York Times reported that a CIA drone struck a Venezuelan port last week, signaling a major escalation in the Trump administration's pressure on the Maduro regime.
Sources identified the target as a dock allegedly used by the Tren de Aragua gang to store and transport narcotics. According to The New York Times, no casualties occurred as the site was empty, but the strike represents the first confirmed US operation inside Venezuela.
CNN initially broke the news, providing context to an incident President Donald Trump publicly acknowledged, overriding typical CIA secrecy.
Speaking Monday, Trump avoided operational specifics but confirmed US responsibility, The New York Times noted. "There was a major explosion in the dock area where they load the boats up with drugs," Trump told reporters. "They load the boats up with drugs. So we hit all the boats, and now we hit the area. It's the implementation area, that's where they implement, and that is no longer around."
While the Venezuelan government offered no direct comment, Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello blasted the "imperial madness" and ongoing "harassment, threats, attacks, persecution, robberies, piracy and murders."
Both the CIA and the White House declined to comment, according to The New York Times. Trump had warned of expanding anti-Maduro measures to land targets, with the CIA compiling data on drug facilities in Colombia and Venezuela.
Previous US pressure involved seizing tankers and intercepting boats in international waters. The New York Times stated the drone strike occurred inside Venezuela, likely Wednesday, aligning with Trump's Friday remarks about an attack two days earlier. The campaign targets Tren de Aragua and Maduro, though intelligence agencies question the administration's claims of close ties between them.
Washington holds a prior indictment against Maduro and recently increased the reward for his capture to $50 million. The New York Times previously reported that Trump authorized CIA missions in Venezuela and directed the agency to prepare options.
While the CIA frequently used drones in Yemen and Pakistan under Obama, recent strikes have typically been conducted by the US military. It is unclear if the drone was CIA or military property; officials declined comment, but the Pentagon has stationed Hellfire-armed MQ-9 Reapers in Puerto Rico.
