THE US military flew a pair of supersonic heavy bombers up to the coast of Venezuela this week, it was revealed today, after President Donald Trump said his government would kill “narcoterrorists.”

Another group of US bombers made a similar journey earlier this month as part of a training exercise to simulate an attack.

The US has built up a large force in the Caribbean Sea and waters off Venezuela, prompting speculation that Mr Trump could try to topple Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.

Mr Maduro faces narcoterrorism charges in the US, which the Venezuelan government says are baseless.

Since early September, US forces have also carried out illegal bombings on vessels in the waters off Venezuela that Washington says were trafficking drugs, killing scores.

Mr Trump said it did not need Congress’s approval, telling reporters on Thursday: “Well, I don’t think we’re going to necessarily ask for a declaration of war.

“I think we’re just going to kill people that are bringing drugs into our country. OK? We’re going to kill them.

“Now they [drugs] are coming in by land … you know, the land is going to be next.”

So far, the US says it has struck at least 10 vessels in the Caribbean and Pacific since early September, killing at least 43 people in an operation Washington brands a campaign against “narco-terrorists.”

The administration has not published evidence substantiating allegations against the crews or individuals killed.

The military deployment to the region has included naval ships, F-35 fighter jets and a nuclear submarine, and thousands of troops have been moved into the Caribbean.

Mr Trump’s comments came after Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth told reporters on Wednesday: “Our message to these foreign terrorist organisations is we will treat you like we have treated al-Qaida.

“We will find you, we will map your networks, we will hunt you down, and we will kill you.”

Colombia’s foreign ministry responded by calling on the US government to cease the attacks, with President Gustavo Petro writing on X: “It is murder.

“Whether in the Caribbean or Pacific, the US government strategy breaks the norms of international law.”

Venezuela has accused the US of launching its anti-cartel campaign as part of a plot to overthrow President Maduro, who said on Wednesday that his armed forces have 5,000 Russian surface-to-air missiles to counter any US military intervention in his country.