Venezuelan military sources reported that Venezuela has deployed a Russian Buk-M2E anti-aircraft missile system near the capital, Caracas, in preparation for a possible U.S. attack. Analysts stated this deployment increases the threat to U.S. air operations. The information was released between 3:15 AM and 3:45 AM UTC on November 4th, 2025. This deployment follows statements from Russian official Alexei Zhuravlev, Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Defense Committee, confirming Russia's supply of weapons to Venezuela, and that the provision of the "Oreshnik" system was not ruled out. These developments occurred within earlier reporting windows on November 4th, 2025. Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro also commented on drug trafficking planes flying over Venezuela during this period, praising Colombian President Gustavo Petro's fight against drug trafficking. Previous reports from November 3rd and early November 4th, 2025, detailed increased U.S. naval activity, including the USS Gerald R. Ford carrier strike group moving approximately 390 kilometers from Gibraltar. A translated Spanish source had suggested a potential crossing of the Strait of Gibraltar around 2:00 UTC on November 4th, 2025. Additionally, the U.S. Navy vessel USNS Waters (T-AGS-45) arrived off the coast of Ponce, Puerto Rico, for submarine navigation system testing and ballistic missile flight test support. Further context from previous reporting includes the Portuguese Navy intercepting a narco-submarine carrying 1.7 tons of cocaine bound for Europe, detaining four Venezuelan crew members. In another development, a purported satellite image of the USS Ford carrier at 30 knots, shared on Twitter, was debunked as an AI-extended image dated March 19, 2023, according to a post on November 4th, 2025, at 3:15 AM UTC.
