President Donald Trump’s administration has reportedly deployed the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, also known as the “Night Stalkers,” in the Caribbean region near Venezuela. The deployment of the “Night Stalkers” comes as the Trump administration continues to carry out military strikes against drug cartel vessels off the coast of Venezuela and continues to increase the number of military assets in the region,
According to The New York Post, the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment uses attack helicopters such as the Army’s MH-60 Black Hawks and “Little Bird” attack helicopters to execute operations in dangerous situations across the globe. The outlet noted that the “Night Stalkers” are capable of transporting elite units, such as Navy SEALs, Delta Force members, and Army Green Berets into battle zones.
The New York Post reported that Army Black Hawk helicopters and “Little Bird” helicopters were spotted training in Trinidad earlier this month, which is roughly 500 miles east of the Venezuelan capital of Caracas. Additionally, the Washington Post reported that the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment appears to have recently flown within 90 miles of the coast of Venezuela.
Mark Cancian, a retired Marine colonel, told The New York Post that the recent training suggested that the U.S. military is practicing for potential missions against drug cartels or the Venezuelan military.
READ MORE: US military buildup in Caribbean placing pressure on Venezuela: Report
“They have excellent surveillance equipment to watch for potential drug smugglers coming out of Venezuela and the attack capabilities to destroy those vessels,” Cancian said. “They could also seize vessels, although they have not done that yet as far as is known.”
“The 160th could take special operations forces into Venezuela to strike cartel or regime targets,” the retired Marine colonel added. “I don’t expect that because of the risk of casualties or capture but it’s possible.”
The 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment’s recent training in the Caribbean comes as the Trump administration has deployed numerous military assets near Venezuela. A recent report indicated that the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit and the Iowa Jima Amphibious Ready Group had been deployed to the U.S. Southern Command region with more than 4,500 Marines and sailors, three guided-missile destroyers, an attack submarine, a guided missile cruiser, a special operations ship, and P-8 Poseidon reconnaissance aircraft.
Addressing the possibility of U.S. military operations in Venezuela, Eva Golinger, a lawyer who advised former Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez, said, “If there was a ‘probability of US military action in Venezuela’ radar, I would say it’s definitely leaning past the 75% probability at this stage, if not more, because things have never escalated to this level.”
Golinger added, “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.”
