Overview

• Open-source tracking showed three B-52s departing Barksdale Air Force Base and heading south between Cuba and Mexico, with at least one or two aircraft dropping off public trackers before reappearing.
• Two bombers were later visible inside Venezuela’s Maiquetía flight information region near Los Roques, where they appeared to circle, briefly disappeared, and then returned to public feeds.
• The activity follows President Trump’s announcement that a U.S. strike destroyed a small boat off Venezuela that he said was carrying narcotics, killing six, along with the release of an unclassified video clip.
• In a recent letter to Congress, the Pentagon said it views the operations as part of an armed conflict with designated cartels and classifies certain smugglers as unlawful combatants, with reporting noting at least five acknowledged strikes.
• Analysts described the bomber presence as signaling, though intent and any link to future strikes remain unconfirmed; reports say Caracas is considering emergency measures, and a U.S. deportation flight was diverted with no official connection established.