CNN claims that the CIA bombed Venezuela.
Exclusive: CIA carried out drone strike on port facility on Venezuelan coast
The CIA carried out a drone strike earlier this month on a port facility on the coast of Venezuela, sources familiar with the matter told CNN, marking the first known US attack on a target inside that country.
The drone strike, the details of which have not been previously reported, targeted a remote dock on the Venezuelan coast that the US government believed was being used by the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua to store drugs and move them onto boats for shipping, the sources said. No one was present at the facility at the time it was struck, so there were no casualties, according to the sources.
Two sources said US Special Operations Forces provided intelligence support to the operation, underscoring their continued involvement in the region. But Col. Allie Weiskopf, a spokesperson for US Special Operations Command, denied that, saying, “Special Operations did not support this operation to include intel support.”
President Donald Trump appeared to first acknowledge the attack in an interview last week that initially attracted little notice, though he offered few specifics, including when reporters asked directly about it on Monday.
The NY Times has a similar report (archived) which additionally claims that the strike has happened last Wednesday.
There is however zero evidence that any strike took place. Venezuela Analysis has found no mention of it or of any damage in Venezuelan media, open source data or Venezuelan government statements. Neither have I.
Did this strike even happen? Or is it part of a miscalculated psychological operation to convince the Venezuelan government that it is under immediate threat and needs to get out?