Air Force
US bombers conduct attack demonstration near Venezuela amid US strikes on alleged drug boats
Stars and Stripes
October 21, 2025
A U.S. Air Force B-52H Stratofortress bomber flies with two U.S. Marine Corps F-35B Lightning II aircraft in the U.S. Southern Command area of responsibility on Oct. 15, 2025. (U.S. Air Force)
B-52H Stratofortress bombers conducted an attack demonstration off the coast of Venezuela last week, amid a general buildup of U.S. forces in the region and criticism from lawmakers.
The long-range bombers, from Barksdale Air Force Base, La., executed the mission on Oct. 15, Air Forces Southern said in a Facebook post, which disclosed only that the demonstration happened in the U.S. Southern Command area of responsibility.
Observers used open-source flight tracking data to place the exercise near Venezuela, and U.S. officials confirmed it to Air & Space Forces Magazine.
The mission demonstrates “the U.S. commitment to proactively deter adversary threats to the U.S. homeland and the region,” the post said.
A U.S. Air Force B-52H Stratofortress bomber assigned to the 2nd Bomb Wing flies in the U.S. Southern Command area of responsibility on Oct. 15, 2025. (U.S. Air Force)
A U.S. Marine Corps F-35B Lightning II aircraft assigned to the Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 225 flies alongside a U.S. Air Force B-52H Stratofortress bomber assigned to the 2nd Bomb Wing in the U.S. Southern Command area of responsibility on Oct. 15, 2025. (U.S. Air Force)
U.S. Air Force B-52H Stratofortress bombers fly with two U.S. Marine Corps F-35B Lightning II aircraft in the U.S. Southern Command area of responsibility on Oct. 15, 2025. (U.S. Air Force)
A U.S. Air Force B-52H Stratofortress bomber flies in the U.S. Southern Command area of responsibility on Oct. 15, 2025. (U.S. Air Force)
Meanwhile, U.S. military helicopters also conducted a training exercise in Trinidad and Tobago, the Caribbean nation close to Venezuela. Experts told The Washington Post that videos on social media appeared to show MH-6 Little Bird attack helicopters and MH-60 Black Hawks, which are operated by the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment.
The mission happened the same day President Donald Trump confirmed he had authorized the covert operations inside Venezuela and said his administration “is looking at land” as it considers further strikes in the region.
It also came after five known strikes on alleged drug vessels in the region, which were followed by two more strikes on Oct. 16 and 17. A total of 32 people are known to have been killed in the strikes, which has drawn the opposition from some in Congress and the United Nations.
The U.S. maritime buildup in the region includes surface warships, a Los Angeles-class submarine, F-35 fighter jets and about 10,000 personnel.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.