Helicopters from an elite US special operations unit have been spotted in Caribbean waters less than 90 miles off the coast of Venezuela, possibly indicating preparations for covert operations inside the country, The Washington Post reports based on visual analysis.

According to the publication's investigation, helicopters from the US Air Force's 160th Special Operations Regiment (known as the "Night Stalkers") were spotted near Trinidad and Tobago, just a few miles from Venezuelan territory. Among them were MH/AH-6M "Little Bird" and MH-60M "Black Hawk" helicopters, designed for special forces insertion, reconnaissance, and fire support. These aircraft were operating in tandem with a US Navy forward-deployed floating base previously spotted in the Caribbean Sea and, according to experts, were conducting amphibious assault training.

The Washington Post links these maneuvers to President Donald Trump's authorization of CIA covert operations inside Venezuela. The US administration is increasing pressure on the regime of Nicolás Maduro, accusing him of ties to drug cartels and human rights violations. Washington recently doubled the bounty on Maduro's head to $50 million, and US forces have already carried out three strikes on suspicious drug vessels off the country's coast. Venezuelan Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino López warned of possible "targeted assassinations" and sabotage of strategic assets by US special forces, including attacks on power grids and railways.

A significant American force is deployed in the region: eight surface ships, a submarine, ten F-35 Lightning II fighter jets, and the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit with 2200 Marines equipped with Harrier helicopters and armored vehicles. Furthermore, the "ghost" vessel MV Ocean Trader has been spotted off the coast—a converted cargo ship serving as a base for special operations, capable of carrying helicopters, boats, and drones while disguised as a civilian vessel. Venezuelan F-16s have already carried out "provocative" overflights of American ships, which Trump has cited as a pretext for retaliatory fire if threatened.

The White House has officially denied plans for an invasion, emphasizing that the operations are aimed at combating drug trafficking and "stabilizing the region."