U.S. Stratotankers at Aeropuerto Internacional Las Américas (AILA) in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, began preparations to depart earlier than on previous days between 9:46 PM and 10:46 PM UTC on December 30, 2025, according to @Elconde7th on X at https://x.com/Elconde7th/status/2006122302929531263. The movement, described as very rare compared to prior days, was reported as #NOW by @Elconde7th, with corroboration from multiple X accounts including @r4streando, @SA_Defensa, @FlconEYES, @Arr3ch0, @Flightwatcher1, @AirAssets, and @LatAmMiLMVMTs during the 59-minute reporting window. This development occurs amid U.S. Southern Command's #OpSouthernSpear operations in the Caribbean, following a U.S. Air Force MC-130J Commando II en route to Puerto Rico and a U.S. Navy C-40 Clipper departure from San Juan International Airport earlier on December 30, as reported by @FrozenFrequency on X. The Stratotankers' early preparations align with heightened U.S. military activity in the region, including the Pentagon's video release earlier that day showing joint U.S. agencies seizing a sanctioned ship linked to Venezuela, according to @EmmaRincon on X and prior U.S. Southern Command statements directed by Secretary of War Pete Hegseth.
