The Pentagon announced on Saturday that the United States Marine Corps recently carried out training exercises on Puerto Rican soil, including landing and infiltration maneuvers. The drills come amid Washington’s illegal military operations in the Caribbean and rising fears of a possible attack on Venezuela.

RELATED: Russia Reaffirms Its Support for Venezuela and Defends the Caribbean as a Zone of Peace

The U.S. Southern Command posted a message on social media platform X, along with a video, stating that the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit had conducted “training operations in Puerto Rico.”

The footage shows an LCAC — a large hovercraft designed to transport troops, vehicles, and equipment — performing an amphibious landing supported by several UH-1Y transport helicopters, from which Marines also practiced disembarkations, as well as Apache attack helicopters providing cover.

The video then shows squads of Marines moving in Polaris MRZR vehicles — lightweight, all-terrain tactical transports built for rough environments — as they secure firing positions and carry out infiltration exercises.

In recent days, the Pentagon has reinforced the deployment it began over the summer in Caribbean waters off Venezuela, sending, among other assets, its largest and most advanced aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald R. Ford.

With this expanded contingent, U.S. forces have reportedly destroyed more than a dozen boats allegedly involved in drug trafficking, leaving most of their occupants dead.

President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio both denied on Friday that Washington is preparing to attack Venezuela, despite the unmistakable escalation of military pressure on Caracas.

IN THIS ARTICLE