The United States’ elite helicopter unit, known as the “Night Stalkers,” has been spotted operating in the Caribbean amid growing fears that Washington is preparing for a potential military move against Venezuela.
The unit, officially called the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (SOAR), is one of the most secretive divisions in the US military, famed for conducting high-risk missions under the cover of darkness.
The Night Stalkers have taken part in some of the most dangerous operations in modern history, including flying Navy SEALs into Pakistan for the 2011 mission that killed Osama bin Laden and supporting combat missions in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Syria.
According to The Daily National News, their distinctive Little Bird attack helicopters and Black Hawks have recently been observed roughly 90 miles off the Venezuelan coast as part of a wider US military deployment in the Caribbean.
The operation has also seen the arrival of B-52 bombers and F-35 fighter jets, signaling what many analysts view as the most serious buildup of American firepower near Venezuela in years.
The deployment comes as former US President Donald Trump escalates his rhetoric and pressure campaign against Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, whose regime has long been accused of corruption, election fraud, and human rights abuses.
Trump confirmed last week that he had authorized covert CIA operations inside Venezuela, boasting that Maduro “doesn’t want to mess with the United States.”
Since September, at least 27 people have reportedly been killed in US missile strikes targeting suspected drug trafficking vessels in the Caribbean.
Eva Golinger, an American lawyer who once advised Venezuela’s late leader Hugo Chávez, told The Daily National News that the likelihood of a US military operation was “past 75 percent” given recent events.
“I’m waiting for the text in the middle of the night or the call that there has been some type of US incursion inside Venezuela or selective bombing,” she said.
Golinger warned that Trump appeared “willing to go for it because he believes his power is limitless,” adding that “Venezuela is in the eye of the storm, and it’s pretty terrifying.”
Robert Evan Ellis, a Latin America analyst who advised former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, described the military movements as part of a “carefully calibrated messaging campaign” designed to pressure Maduro’s inner circle.
Ellis outlined three potential scenarios: a military coup from within Venezuela, a direct US strike that topples Maduro, or a negotiated exit deal involving economic concessions and access to Venezuelan oil reserves.
He noted that any such deal could also open the door for major US investments, possibly even a Trump-branded hotel and golf resort in Caracas.
“What is difficult to imagine is that Maduro stays in power and things continue as before,” Ellis said. “If there is no breakthrough by early December, the president could pull the trigger and launch an operation.”
For decades, the Night Stalkers have been America’s go-to force for complex missions that require precision flying in dangerous conditions.
The regiment was first formed in 1981 and played a critical role in several US military operations across Latin America, including the 1983 invasion of Grenada and the 1989 ousting of Panama’s dictator Manuel Noriega.
In Panama, Night Stalker pilots carried out one of their most daring operations by rescuing a US citizen from a heavily guarded prison while under intense enemy fire.
Military historian Steven Hartov told The Daily National News that the unit’s pilots are “the Formula One drivers of aviation,” trained to deliver and extract special forces from “impossible” locations at night.
“They go fast, low, and silent in the dark,” Hartov said. “When a mission looks impossible, these are the people you call.”
The motto of the unit, “Death Waits in the Dark,” reflects their reputation for stealth and precision.
Analysts believe their recent presence in the Caribbean is a clear warning to Maduro that the US is prepared to use force if diplomatic and covert efforts fail.
Inside Venezuela, tensions are running high. Maduro’s government has mobilized its Bolivarian militia and loyal military forces, conducting rallies to showcase readiness against what it calls “imperialist aggression.”
Despite the show of defiance, many in Venezuela fear that an American strike could trigger regional instability and humanitarian fallout.
Observers say that Trump’s renewed focus on Venezuela could be politically motivated as he seeks to demonstrate foreign policy strength in the lead-up to the next election.
With the Night Stalkers now active in the region, Washington’s intentions remain uncertain, but the presence of elite US forces so close to Venezuelan territory has fueled growing speculation that regime change may be closer than ever.
