Photographer MichaelBonet8 captured an MQ-9 Reaper carrying six AGM-114 Hellfire launchers this morning, the most observed on a single unit in the region to date, according to a post by SA_Defensa on X between 5:16 p.m. and 6:45 p.m. UTC on December 24, 2025. vcdgf555 posted on X within the same 90-minute period about updates at 8:59 a.m. local time, reporting a new airframe at Rafael Hernandez Airport (BQN) in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico. These observations follow U.S. Coast Guard preparations to board and seize a Venezuela-linked oil tanker pursued since December 21, as a U.S. official and source familiar told Reuters, shared by DeItaone on X before 5:15 p.m. UTC today. U.S. military deployments to Puerto Rico include F-35s from the 158th Fighter Wing at Jose Aponte de la Torre Airport on December 21, confirmed by CoronetEast on X, and Marine Corps AV-8B Harriers at Roosevelt Roads Naval Station on December 23, per Sent Defender on X. Marine Corps leadership is en route to Puerto Rico, according to AirAssets on X earlier today.
