WASHINGTON, D.C. — The United States carried out military strikes on multiple locations inside Venezuela, targeting military-related facilities, after President Donald Trump authorized the operation as part of efforts to increase pressure on Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, U.S. officials said.
Senior U.S. officials confirmed that the strikes targeted sites linked to Venezuelan security forces and aimed to disrupt the operational capabilities of units aligned with the Maduro government. The officials described the action as a limited operation and did not disclose all locations or the full extent of the damage.
U.S. officials said the operation involved precision strikes using stand-off weapons launched from outside Venezuelan territory. They declined to identify the platforms or weapons systems involved. The Pentagon has not released a detailed public statement on the strikes.
Officials said President Trump approved the action after receiving briefings from military and intelligence agencies. The administration discussed diplomatic, economic, and military options during internal deliberations before authorizing the strikes, according to the officials. The action followed a period of heightened tensions between Washington and Caracas.
The U.S. government has recognized opposition leader Juan Guaidó as Venezuela’s legitimate interim president. Maduro’s government continues to control state institutions and the armed forces.
Washington has imposed sanctions on Venezuelan officials and state-run entities, including restrictions on oil exports, as part of efforts to force political change. U.S. officials say Maduro’s government bears responsibility for human rights abuses and democratic backsliding, citing reports of arbitrary detentions, suppression of protests, and limits on opposition activity. Venezuelan authorities reject these accusations and describe them as politically motivated.
Venezuelan officials have repeatedly condemned U.S. actions as acts of aggression and accuse Washington of pursuing regime change. The Maduro administration has said U.S. pressure has worsened the country’s economic crisis.
There has been no official confirmation from the Venezuelan government regarding damage or casualties from the strikes. Venezuelan state media has not released detailed reports, and independent verification remains limited due to restrictions on access for foreign journalists and observers.
