South America

Latest in South America

Lockheed Martin has offered a very rare confirmation of the RQ-170 Sentinel stealth drone's operational exploits, in this case, in support of the recent mission to capture Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro.

Lockheed Confirms RQ-170 Sentinel Spy Drones Took Part In Maduro Capture Mission

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Jan 29, 2026

U.S. forces were prepared to destroy three airfields if it appeared that fighters belonging to the Venezuelan Air Force were attempting to scramble and intercept the force sent to capture Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro earlier this month.

U.S. Was Primed To Destroy Three Venezuelan Airfields If Fighters Attempted To Launch

By Joseph Trevithick

Updated on Jan 15, 2026

A U.S. plane with a civilian-style outward appearance and the ability to launch munitions from within its fuselage carried out the first controversial strike on an alleged drug smuggling boat, according to multiple reports.

Let’s Talk About The Mysterious “Civilian-Style” Plane Used To Strike A Drug Boat

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Jan 14, 2026

A viral and as-yet totally unsubstantiated claim that U.S. forces used a mysterious "sonic weapon" that left security forces bleeding and stunned during the recent operation to capture Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro has been getting a ton of attention.

Did A Mysterious “Sonic Weapon” Really Aid Delta Force In Capturing Maduro?

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Jan 13, 2026

Despite parallels drawn between the two operations, one asset that featured prominently in the Bin Laden mission in 2011 that looks to have been notably absent in the force that descended on Caracas over the weekend is stealthy Black Hawk helicopters.

Why Stealth Black Hawks Weren’t Used For Maduro Capture Mission

By Joseph Trevithick, Tyler Rogoway

Posted on Jan 6, 2026

The crew of the fleeing Russian-flagged oil tanker Marinera released a video showing the ship being pursued by a U.S. Coast Guard Legend class cutter.

U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Seen Pursuing Fleeing Russian Oil Tanker For First Time (Updated)

By Howard Altman

Posted on Jan 6, 2026

Multiple video clips offer strong evidence that kamikaze drones were among the capabilities the U.S. military brought to bear during the operation to capture Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro over the weekend.

Did The U.S. Use Kamikaze Drones To Strike Venezuela?

By Joseph Trevithick

Updated on Jan 6, 2026

Maduro captured, U.S. to run Venezuela.

U.S. Will Now “Run” Venezuela After Maduro Capture: Trump (Updated)

By Joseph Trevithick, Howard Altman, Tyler Rogoway

Updated on Jan 4, 2026

Details are still emerging about the U.S. operation to capture Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro. We now have access to satellite imagery that, while not answering all the questions about how Operation Absolute Resolve unfolded, provides an intriguing look at some of the key locations where it played out.

Destruction Seen At Caracas Base That Was A Focus Of The U.S. Military Operation

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Jan 4, 2026

RQ-170 Sentinel Stealth Drone Supported Maduro Capture Mission

RQ-170 Sentinel Stealth Drone Supported Maduro Capture Mission

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Jan 3, 2026

160th SOAR took part in operation to strike targets in Venezuela and capture Maduro.

U.S. Has Captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro (Updated)

By Tyler Rogoway, Howard Altman Howard Altman

Updated on Jan 3, 2026

Evidence that the United States employed AGM-114 Hellfire or AGM-179A Joint Air-to-Ground Missile (JAGM) missiles in a covert strike on a target in Venezuela has now emerged.

Missile Fragments Add To Evidence MQ-9 Reaper Drone Carried Out Venezuela Strike

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Jan 2, 2026

A picture has emerged that looks to show Iran's Mohajer-6 drone has entered service, at least on a limited level, with the Venezuelan military.

Iranian Strike-Surveillance Drones Are Now Operating In Venezuela

By Joseph Trevithick

Updated on Jan 1, 2026

Over the past week or so, U.S. MQ-9 Reaper drones have been spotted carrying increasingly greater numbers of AGM-114 Hellfire missiles on sorties from Puerto Rico.

MQ-9 Reapers Flying With Unusually Heavy Weapons Loads Over Caribbean

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Dec 30, 2025

In a phone call to ABC radio in New York, U.S. President Donald Trump claimed an attack inside Venezuela. The White House has yet to offer any proof.

Trump Doubles Down On Claim U.S. Attacked Inside Venezuela (Updated)

By Howard Altman

Updated on Dec 29, 2025

The presence of U.S. special operations forces is growing in the Caribbean.

CV-22B Osprey, MC-130J Commando II Special Ops Aircraft Deploy To Puerto Rico

By Howard Altman

Posted on Dec 23, 2025