Overview
- The Pentagon said a U.S. airstrike on a suspected smuggling vessel in international waters killed three people in the Caribbean.
- U.S. Southern Command released video of Marines conducting amphibious landing and infiltration training in Puerto Rico.
- Reuters reported refurbishment of the former Roosevelt Roads base and upgrades at airports in Puerto Rico and St. Croix, signaling preparations for sustained operations.
- The Gerald R. Ford carrier strike group, including missile-armed escorts and embarked aircraft, is transiting from the Mediterranean toward the region.
- Analysts say the posture pressures President Nicolás Maduro, and a Russian lawmaker floated possible missile supplies to Caracas, while President Trump denied any order for an imminent attack.