NEW DELHI: In a dramatic escalation of the US-Venezuela conflict over drug trafficking, US military forces have launched a precision strike on a suspected drug boat loading facility located on the coast of Venezuela. The operation is the latest in a series of actions taken by the US to curb the flow of illicit drugs from Latin America to North America.

The strike targeted an industrial complex located in a remote part of Venezuela’s northern coastline, believed to be used by drug cartels to load cocaine and other narcotics onto boats bound for the Caribbean and beyond. The U.S. government claims that the facility was directly linked to several major drug trafficking organizations with ties to Venezuela’s political elite and military.

According to US officials, the strike was carried out using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) equipped with precision-guided munitions. The attack reportedly destroyed several key structures, including storage facilities, loading docks, and numerous boats prepared for shipment. Initial reports indicate that the facility was in operation at the time of the strike, though there have been no confirmed casualties as of yet.

The US Southern Command issued a statement defending the operation, describing it as a necessary step in the ongoing fight against drug cartels that threaten both U.S. national security and the safety of Latin American citizens.

The strike comes at a time of already strained relations between the US and Venezuela, with Washington having long accused Maduro’s government of enabling drug trafficking and other criminal activities. The US has imposed multiple sanctions on Venezuela over the years, targeting the country’s oil industry, government officials, and individuals associated with the drug trade.