Two US B-1 bombers flew near Venezuela today in what United States officials described as part of a widening U.S. military presence in the Caribbean. The widening operation has been presented as pressure on the government of President Nicolas Maduro, as well as a campaign against drug smuggling into the United States.
The aircrafts took off from Dyess Air Force Base in Texas and flew in international airspace off Venezuela’s coast, according to U.S. officials and open flight tracking data. B-1 bombers are equipped with long-range B-QB Lancers that can carry large bomb loads, can also reach supersonic speeds and perform maritime surveillance.
The move came days after a separate U.S. operation, that included B-52 bombers and F-35B fighters, described by the U.S. Military as an “attack demonstration” over the South Caribbean sea. The two missions underscore a wider U.S. build-up in the region, which officials maintain is aimed at disrupting alleged drug trafficking networks that operate in and around Venezuela and neighboring waters.
The US bombers flying near Venezuela signal seriousness
According to reporting by the Wall Street Journal, retired Air Force Gen. David Deptula said: “The flights signal seriousness and intent,” adding, “You’re bringing an enormous set of capabilities. … Endurance, payload, range, and precision.”
U.S. officials have described the Caribbean deployment as large and multifaceted. Over 10,000 U.S. troops are currently deployed in the Caribbean, including 5,500 in Puerto Rico — where, according to Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, they are training for military operations — and 4,500 aboard a naval force composed of eight surface warships, at least one submarine, maritime patrol aircraft, MQ-9 Reaper drones, and an F-35 squadron, directed toward Venezuela.
The flights follow a series of strikes on fast boats and a semi-submersible vessel since early September, officially targeting drug traffickers who move alleged narcotics bound for the United States. Hegseth told reporters this week that strikes have continued in the Pacific as well, saying the U.S. attacked two vessels there. The Trump administration says it is in a “non-international armed conflict” with drug cartels and has argued that cartel activity constitutes an armed attack because of the deaths caused by illicit drugs.
Two U.S. B-1B Lancer bombers flew a Caribbean patrol today, entering Venezuela’s ADIZ and nearing within 80 km of the coast, briefly switching off transponders in what appeared to be a strike simulation.
The mission follows earlier B-52 and F-35 flights near Venezuela this… pic.twitter.com/Sz3nQNlya2
— Clash Report (@clashreport) October 23, 2025
This is not the first time the U.S. used bombers for demonstration purposes against Venezuela. Officials have confirmed another demonstration mission on Oct. 15. Bomber manoeuvers in the Caribbean are rare, as U.S. forces typically conduct perhaps one such long-range mission a year. Defense officials said more bomber flights could be ordered as part of the campaign.
Related: US Deploys USS Gerald Ford Aircraft Carrier Against Venezuela
The broader campaign could expand into land targets
U.S. President Donald Trump has suggested the ongoing campaign could expand into land targets. At a White House event this week, President Trump said: “There are fewer boats traveling on the water, so now they’ll come in by land to a lesser extent, and they will be hit on land also.”
Such remarks and the step-up in military activity in the region have drawn political and legal questions in Washington. Lawmakers and legal experts have pressed the administration for evidence and clarity about the legality of the strikes in international waters. Senate Majority Leader John Thune, a Republican from South Dakota, said Thursday he did not know whether Congress would have to authorize strikes on land.
Rapid, decisive lethality from the land, sea and air:
A look at U.S. military forces deployed to the Caribbean in support of the #SOUTHCOM mission, @DeptofWar-directed operations, and @POTUS' priorities to disrupt illicit drug trafficking and protect the homeland. @MARFORSOUTH… pic.twitter.com/C9l9VNXCWd— U.S. Southern Command (@Southcom) October 23, 2025
The operations have also caused tensions to soar in the region. Nicolas Maduro has accused the White House of seeking regime change and has positioned troops along the coast of Venezuela as a precaution against a potential land attack. Colombia’s Petro has also sharply criticized the strikes, saying at least one Colombian victim was a fisherman who suffered engine trouble at sea.
Related: Venezuelan Oil Is the Core Issue in US-Maduro Tensions.