B-1 Bombers Buzz Venezuela as Trump Hints at Ground Strikes on Cartels
U.S. B-1 bombers flew within 50 miles of Venezuela on Thursday, escalating President Donald Trump’s war on narco-terrorism. The aircraft took off from Dyess Air Force Base in Texas and stayed over international waters, according to tracking data confirmed by the Wall Street Journal.
Trump dismissed the report as “not accurate” when asked about the flights during a White House panel. He added, “We’re not happy with Venezuela for a lot of reasons. Drugs being one of them.”
The flight followed a previous show of force involving B-52 bombers and F-35B fighter jets near a Venezuelan island. Over the past several weeks, U.S. forces have blown up at least nine drug-running vessels—seven in the Caribbean and two in the Pacific.
Trump said drug traffic by sea has plummeted due to military strikes but warned that traffickers are now moving through land routes. He floated the idea of launching strikes on land-based drug operations and suggested Congress would support it.
“Now, they’re coming in by land, and even the land is concerned because I told them that’s going to be next,” Trump said. “We may go to the Congress and tell them about it, but I can’t imagine they would have any problem with it. I think, in fact, while we’re here, I think it’s a good idea, Pete, you go to Congress, you tell them about it. What are they going to do? Say, ‘gee, we don’t want to stop drugs pouring in?’ They’re killing 300,000 people per year.”
Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro responded with threats, claiming the country has over 5,000 Russian-made Igla-S anti-air missiles positioned to repel any foreign threat. “Any military force in the world knows the power of the Igla-S,” he said.
Last week, Trump said Maduro has privately offered “everything” to avoid direct conflict. “He’s offered everything,” Trump said. “You know why? Because he doesn’t want to f*** around with the United States.”
As Trump intensifies his efforts against what he calls narco-terrorists, the next phase could involve expanding the war beyond sea operations—bringing the fight directly to cartel territory on land.