Speaking to reporters, Mr Trump declined to say how the attack had been carried out or by whom but confirmed the United States was responsible. Until now, the US has been pressuring Venezuela by conducting military strikes on boats it suspects of trafficking drugs and seizing oil tankers under sanctions. But the CIA drone strike took place inside Venezuela, likely on Wednesday. In a radio interview last Friday, Mr Trump said the strike had taken place two days before. The CIA regularly conducted drone strikes against terrorist targets in Pakistan, Yemen, Somalia and elsewhere during the Obama administration.

Source: The Irish Times December 30, 2025 14:30 UTC