URGENT: Growing Indicators That U.S. Strikes Inside Venezuela Are Imminent

Regime statements, military leadership shifts, and movements of military assets all point to likely imminent strikes inside of Venezuela

(Screenshot from Evergreen Intel on Bluesky.)

The United States is likely preparing for imminent kinetic strikes against land-based targets in Venezuela. This is indicated by the forward deployment of specialized military air assets incompatible with standard counter-narcotics operations, explicit statements from President Trump, and an abrupt leadership transition at U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM). These developments suggest an imminent shift toward a more aggressive operational phase of the U.S. conflict with Venezuela.

• Electronic Warfare Deployment: A squadron of six U.S. Navy EA-18G Growlers has forward-deployed to the former Naval Station Roosevelt Roads in Puerto Rico. These aircraft possess suppression of enemy air defense (SEAD) capabilities necessary for penetrating Venezuelan airspace, a capability not required for interdicting drug boats.

• Operational Security: Open-source intelligence indicates the deployed Growlers have reduced identifying numbers, with unit and crew names removed from the airframes. The removal of identifying markings from these aircraft suggests heightened operational security (OPSEC) measures typically associated with combat operations.

• Airborne Early Warning (AEW) & Command and Control (C2) Positioning: An E-2D Advanced Hawkeye (callsign TRACER01) and F/A-18F Super Hornets have been tracked moving closer to Aruba and Curacao, increasing C2 coverage near the Venezuelan coast.

• Executive Confirmation: President Trump stated on December 12, 2025, that operations are “starting by land,” noting that “by land is a lot easier. And that’s going to start happening.” While all statements by the President are suspect, other indicators support the idea that strikes inside of Venezuela are likely imminent.

• Leadership Change: Admiral Alvin Holsey relinquished command of SOUTHCOM only one year into a three-year term following tensions with the Defense Secretary over Caribbean deployments, transferring authority to U.S. Air Force Lt. Gen. Evan Lamar Pettus. While his early retirement was announced in October, its fulfillment opens the door to new leadership more supportive of the regime’s aggression in the region.

• Force Buildup: Total U.S. forces in the region have reached approximately 15,000 personnel, including the carrier strike group led by the USS Gerald R. Ford. This is the largest presence in decades.

• Epstein files imminent: With the Epstein files set to be released by December 19 and House Oversight Committee Democrats releasing a new trove of evidence from the Epstein estate, the President and his regime have heightened motive to distract the public from the growing scandal. A war in Venezuela during the holidays may be perceived as a viable strategy for doing so.

Escalation of the conflict beyond the current maritime “Operation Southern Spear” into direct engagement with targets inside of Venezuelan territory may be used to dismantle the regime’s power structure, consistent with the administration’s “maximum pressure” strategy and rhetoric that Maduro’s “days are numbered.” If so, this will increase the probability of a kinetic response from the Maduro regime, which will perceive the U.S. strikes as an existential threat.

Sources

https://x.com/KobeissiLetter/status/1999616618113221005

EA-18G Growlers Deploying To Puerto Rico An Indicator Of What’s To Come (Updated) - TWZ

Commander overseeing U.S. forces in Caribbean relinquishes command early amid U.S. buildup near Venezuela - CBS News