The CIA is responsible for carrying out the first US land strike in Venezuela on a port facility believed to have been storing drugs bound for America, sources claim.

President Donald Trump confirmed the Christmas Eve strike on Monday, days after he casually discussed in a radio interview the attack on a facility ‘where the ship comes from.’

The strike, which took place on a port dock authorities believe was the home base of the alleged drug vessels that the US military has been targeting in the Caribbean and Atlantic over the last three months, signaled a further escalation of tensions between the two countries.

Multiple sources have now told CNN that the drone strike was carried out by the CIA, after Trump refused to weigh in on the theory.

Asked if the CIA had carried out the attack, Trump said: ‘I don’t want to say that. I know exactly who it was but I don’t want to say who it was.’

But Trump has previously said that he has authorized the CIA to carry out covert operations in Venezuela.

Sources said the strike took place on a remote dock on the coast of Venezuela believed to used by the Tren de Aragua gang to stockpile and transfer drugs.

The CIA received intelligence support from US Special Operations Forces. No one was killed and there was nobody at the facility when the attack took place.