Data from the civilian flight-tracking website FlightRadar24 on October 15 indicated that the bombers, identified by the call signs BUNNY01, BUNNY02, and BUNNY03, departed from Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana and headed south.

The B-52 formation later turned east, entering international airspace within the Maiquetia Flight Information Region (FIR), which is managed by Venezuela. The aircraft flew multiple loops, at times moving directly toward Venezuela’s capital, Caracas, before turning back out to sea. The entire operation lasted about two hours.

An FIR is a designated section of airspace for which the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) assigns a member nation responsibility to provide flight safety and air traffic services. The boundaries of each FIR are determined by agreements among relevant countries and approved by the ICAO Council. FIRs may include both national and international airspace.

The purpose of the B-52 mission remains unclear, and neither U.S. nor Venezuelan officials have commented on the incident.

According to Joseph Trevithick, an editor at the U.S. military analysis site The War Zone, the B-52’s long range and targeting capabilities could be useful in tracking vessels suspected of drug trafficking. He noted that B-52 and B-1 bombers have been deployed for anti-narcotics operations over the Caribbean Sea for decades.

“The open deployment of B-52 bombers may also send a message to Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro,” Trevithick said. “These aircraft can launch long-range cruise missiles and carry a wide variety of munitions for strikes against both land and sea targets.”

The flights occurred on the same day President Donald Trump reiterated the possibility of expanding U.S. counter-narcotics operations to include strikes on gangs within Venezuelan territory. “We’re definitely considering targeting inland sites, as we’ve already established strong control at sea,” Trump told reporters at the White House.

The U.S. has recently reinforced its presence in the southern Caribbean, deploying 10 stealth fighters, 8 warships, and about 10,000 troops to the area as part of its campaign against drug trafficking. The U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) last week established a new task force to oversee the operation.

President Maduro has described the U.S. military buildup in the Caribbean as “the greatest threat to Venezuela in 100 years,” declaring that the country is ready to “fight an armed battle to defend national territory.” He has also ordered the mobilization of both regular troops and reserve forces.

Since September, U.S. forces have carried out five airstrikes on boats allegedly involved in drug trafficking south of the Caribbean, resulting in 27 deaths.

Washington has not released evidence proving that the targets were drug smugglers. Experts argue that such airstrikes may violate international law, even if the vessels were confirmed to be carrying narcotics. Several former U.S. military lawyers have also said the administration’s justification for killing suspected smugglers at sea — instead of capturing them — fails to meet the standards set under the laws of armed conflict.