Trump Hints US Hit a Facility 12/29 11:35

   

   WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Donald Trump has indicated that the U.S. has 
"hit" a facility in South America as he wages a pressure campaign on Venezuela, 
but the U.S. offered no other details.

   Trump made the comments in what seemed to be an impromptu radio interview 
Friday.

   The president, who called radio host John Catsimatidis during a program on 
WABC radio, was discussing U.S. strikes on alleged drug-carrying boats in the 
Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific Ocean, which have killed at least 105 people 
in 29 known strikes since early September.

   "I don't know if you read or saw, they have a big plant or a big facility 
where they send the, you know, where the ships come from," Trump said. "Two 
nights ago, we knocked that out. So, we hit them very hard."

   Trump did not offer any additional details in the interview, including what 
kind of attack may have occurred. The Pentagon on Monday referred questions to 
the White House, which did not immediately respond to a message seeking comment.

   Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth or one of the U.S. military's social media 
accounts has in the past typically announced every boat strike in a post on X, 
but they have not posted any notice of any strike on a facility.

   The press office of Venezuela's government did not immediately respond 
Monday to a request for comment on Trump's statement.

   Trump for months has suggested he may conduct land strikes in South America, 
in Venezuela or possibly another country, and in recent weeks has been saying 
the U.S. would move beyond striking boats and would strike on land "soon."

   In October, Trump confirmed he had authorized the CIA to conduct covert 
operations in Venezuela. The agency did not immediately respond to a message 
seeking comment Monday.

   Along with the strikes, the U.S. has sent warships, built up military forces 
in the region, seized two oil tankers and pursued a third.

   The Trump administration has said it is in "armed conflict" with drug 
cartels and seeking to stop the flow of narcotics into the United States.

   Venezuelan President Nicols Maduro has insisted the real purpose of the U.S. 
military operations is to force him from power.

   White House chief of staff Susie Wiles said in an interview with Vanity Fair 
published this month that Trump "wants to keep on blowing boats up until Maduro 
'cries uncle.'"