NICK SCHIFRIN: Welcome to the "News Hour."

The United States has launched its first# ground attack against Ve.. administration began its campaign to# combat drug trafficking and pressure## President Nicolas Maduro.# We don't have many details,## but President Trump confirmed the explosion today# and said the target was along Venezuela's shore.

DONALD TRUMP, President of the United States:# There was a major explosion in the dock area## where they load the boats up with drugs.

So we# hit all the boats.

And now we hit the area.

It's## the implementation area.

That's where they# implement.

And that is no longer around.

NICK SCHIFRIN: This week, the U.S.

deployed# even more military assets to the Caribbean,## adding to what is already the# largest deployment of the U.S.

Navy## to that region in half-a-century.

It's# allowed the U.S.

to strike at least 29## alleged drug boats and seize two sanctioned# Venezuelan oil tankers and pursue a third.

But the president wasn't focused# only on Venezuela.

Today,## Russian President Vladimir Putin# told Trump that Ukraine had tried## to attack one of his residences.# That's a claim that Trump accepted.

DONALD TRUMP: It's a delicate period# of time.

This is not the right time.## It's one thing to be offensive, because# they're offensive.

It's another thing## to attack his house.

It's not the right# time to do any of that, and can't do it.

NICK SCHIFRIN: Ukrainian President# Volodymyr Zelenskyy today strongly## denied that Ukraine had launched the# attack, calling it -- quote -- "an## obviously fake story that will only# justify Russia's refusal to end the war."

And when it comes to the Middle East,# today, President Trump threatened to## restart war in Iran, accusing the country# of -- quote -- "trying to build up again.

"## And the president, who has declared# himself the president of peace,## said Hamas must disarm before any progress can# be made at finalizing a peace deal in Gaza.

This week, storm clouds loomed over Southern# Gaza, its sea of humanity huddled in canvas homes,## anxious about tomorrow.

And thunderstorms# has flooded makeshift neighborhoods and## tents where floors turned to mud and babies# were wrapped up to protect from the cold.

The U.N.

says 80 percent of Gaza is in# ruins.

There's a U.S.

plan to reconstruct,## but President Trump said today# the first move was Hamas'.

DONALD TRUMP: If they don't disarm, as# they agreed to do, they agreed to it,## and then they will be hell to pay for them.

And we# don't want that.

I'm not concerned about anything## that Israel's doing.

I'm concerned about what# other people are doing or maybe aren't doing.

NICK SCHIFRIN: The cease-fire agreement requires# Hamas to disarm, but the group maintains it has## a right to armed resistance, although it has# discussed freezing or storing its arsenal.

The## cease-fire also requires all military operations# suspended.

The Palestinians accuse Israel of## launching hundreds of attacks that since the# cease-fire began have killed more than 400.

Israel says they're responding to Hamas'# violations, including fighters crossing## over from the western side of the yellow# line to the Israeli-controlled eastern side.## Senior U.S.

and European officials say the# plan for phase two is to rebuild Rafah and## Eastern Gaza, not Western Gaza, to persuade# Palestinians to leave their destroyed Western## Gaza homes and cross the yellow line,# while handing over weapons for cash.

The idea, isolate Hamas in Western# Gaza, making them an easier target.## At the same time, Israeli forces would withdraw# from their bases along the yellow line to## be replaced by countries that officials say# could include Italy, Azerbaijan and Indonesia.

Today, President Trump suggested Arab countries## that supported the cease-fire# could themselves disarm Hamas.

DONALD TRUMP: Because they were for the# deal based on the fact that Hamas pledged,## they swore that they were going to disarm.

Now,## if they're not going to disarm, those# same countries will wipe out Hamas.