At least three B-1B Lancer bombers from the 7th Bomb Wing at Dyess Air Force Base, Texas, departed en route to areas near the Bahamas over the past hour ending at 3:15 a.m. UTC on January 2, 2026, according to an X post by @HHunternight. A couple of Stratotankers remained airborne during this period, as reported by @Elconde7th. The Stratotankers were observed starting usual preparations prior to departures near AILA, cited in the same X post quoting multiple accounts including @r4streando, @SA_Defensa, and @Flightwatcher1. These developments occurred during a 58-minute reporting window from 2:16 a.m. UTC. The bomber and tanker movements follow Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro's denunciation earlier on January 2 of the United States' Caribbean presence as an oil plunder attempt, according to a report shared during the prior reporting window by AFP via @AZ_Intel_ on X. Maduro had also offered cooperation with the US on drug trafficking and oil amid ongoing military pressure, as stated in a state television interview reported by AFP.
