U.S. intelligence officials say the Central Intelligence Agency carried out a drone strike in Venezuela targeting a coastal facility believed to be connected to narcotics trafficking. The operation entered public view after former President Donald Trump referred to U.S. action against what he described as a drug-related target, prompting follow-up reporting from multiple major news organizations.

According to these reports, the strike was directed at a dock or vessel allegedly used to move illegal drugs through Venezuelan waters. U.S. officials have not released images, damage assessments, or detailed evidence to support the claim, and no independent verification has been provided. Venezuelan authorities have denied that any such attack took place, describing the assertions as false and politically motivated.

Current U.S. officials have responded cautiously, neither fully detailing nor formally disputing the account. They have reiterated that the United States continues counter-narcotics operations in the Caribbean and northern South America, often in coordination with regional partners, but have declined to discuss intelligence or covert actions. Analysts note that it is unusual for alleged CIA operations to become part of public political debate.

The episode has added strain to already tense relations between Washington and Caracas. Venezuela has repeatedly accused the United States of violating its sovereignty, while U.S. officials maintain that drug trafficking networks operating in the region pose a security and public health threat. The lack of clarity around the reported strike has left key questions unresolved, including the scale of any damage, whether there were casualties, and the broader implications for U.S.–Venezuela relations.

Sources: Reuters, BBC, CNN