Washington, October 24, 2025 — The Europe Today: U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday dismissed a report by The Wall Street Journal claiming that two U.S. Air Force B-1 Lancer bombers were deployed near Venezuelan airspace amid growing tensions with the government of President Nicolás Maduro.
The Journal reported that the bombers, which departed from Dyess Air Force Base in Texas, flew close to Venezuelan territory while remaining in international airspace. The flights reportedly occurred just days after other U.S. warplanes conducted what was described as an “attack demonstration” near the Caribbean nation. The publication cited a U.S. official and flight-tracking data as sources.
When asked about the report, President Trump refuted the claim, stating, “No, that’s not accurate. But we’re not happy with Venezuela.” His remarks come as Washington continues to increase pressure on the Maduro administration, which it has accused of human rights violations and links to narcotics trafficking.
The denial follows a series of U.S. military operations targeting alleged drug-smuggling vessels off the South American coast. On Wednesday, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed that U.S. forces conducted their ninth such strike, destroying a vessel in the eastern Pacific Ocean and killing three individuals on board.
Hegseth said the operation followed another strike on Tuesday night in the same region that left two people dead. Both incidents represent an expansion of the Trump administration’s anti-narcotics campaign, which has increasingly shifted operations from the Caribbean Sea to the eastern Pacific.
According to U.S. defense officials, the ongoing campaign—launched last month—has resulted in at least 37 fatalities and reflects a broader effort to disrupt transnational drug trafficking networks believed to be linked to Venezuela and other regional actors.
While the Pentagon has not commented publicly on the reported bomber flights, the developments underscore heightened U.S. vigilance in the region amid concerns over Venezuela’s political instability and alleged narcotics activity.
