Increased Pressure on Maduro Regime; Trump Claims US Targeted Facility in Venezuela

Donald Trump stated that the United States targeted a facility in Venezuela while his administration has intensified pressure on the Caracas regime, which facilitates the influx of deadly drugs, including fentanyl, into the US. In an interview with John Catsimatidis on 'WABC Radio,' Trump said, 'We just took it out, I don’t know if you’ve read or seen it, they have a large factory or facility from which ships come.' Trump did not provide details about the location of this facility or the forces involved in the operation. He mentioned that the operation took place two nights prior to the interview, which was conducted on Friday, January 5. He added, 'We dealt them a very hard blow.' According to Trump, drug inflow into the US has decreased by over 97%. The US President claimed that Nicolás Maduro sends members of criminal gangs to the US and fills the country with deadly drugs. Trump stated, 'Every time I take out a boat, we save 25,000 American lives; it’s very simple.' The United States has conducted military attacks against vessels suspected of drug trafficking in the Caribbean Sea and has dispatched warships to the region to increase pressure on Maduro. This is the first time the US has announced targeting a facility within Venezuelan territory. Trump has said, 'Maduro's days of power are numbered' and has called for the return of assets that Venezuela took from American oil companies in previous years. He emphasized that his administration has issued an order for a 'complete and total blockade' of all sanctioned tankers entering or leaving Venezuela. This month, US forces have seized two sanctioned tankers in international waters near the Venezuelan coast and are searching for a third tanker. The US Ambassador to the UN stated: 'We do not recognize the Maduro regime as the legitimate government of Venezuela.' The US targeted another drug trafficking boat at sea. Trump announced plans to build very large warships; the US President stated: 'We will keep the oil and seized ships from Venezuela.' Senator Graham stated: 'The threat of ballistic missiles from the Islamic Republic to Israel is on par with the nuclear program.'