US President Donald Trump confirmed American forces destroyed a docking area for alleged Venezuelan drug boats in what could represent the first land strike of the military campaign against Latin American trafficking, Trump stated on December 29.

"There was a major explosion in the dock area where they load the boats up with drugs," Trump told reporters at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida whilst hosting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

The president did not specify the nature of the facility, and his administration has not yet commented on the attack. If confirmed, it would be the first land attack in an anti-drug campaign that has so far been conducted in the international waters of the Caribbean.

"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."

Trump declined to specify whether it was a military or CIA operation or where the strike occurred, stating only that it was "along the shore".

Asked if he had spoken recently to Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro following an earlier telephone call in November, Trump stated they had talked "pretty recently" but "nothing much comes out of it".

“The U.S. military is the most lethal and decisive fighting force in the world. The increased U.S. military presence in the Caribbean deters cartels and transnational criminals and strengthens security and prosperity for our homeland and our neighbours in the Western Hemisphere,” US Hegseth published on his X social media account.

For several weeks, Trump has been warning that as part of his pressure campaign against the Nicolás Maduro administration, which has involved the destruction of some thirty vessels and the death of more than 100 of their occupants, Washington was going to start attacking targets on land.

US officials quoted by The New York Times said the president was referring to a drug production facility in Venezuela and specified that it was destroyed last week, without elaborating.

Since the summer, the US has maintained a large air and naval deployment in the Caribbean, near Venezuelan waters, which it claims is aimed at combating drug trafficking, but which Caracas interprets as "threats" and an attempt to bring about regime change.

Tensions escalated after Trump announced a blockade of sanctioned oil tankers travelling to and from the South American country, and the seizure of two ships carrying Venezuelan crude in recent weeks.