U.S. Marine AV-8B Harrier Executes Live Precision Strike from USS Iwo Jima over Caribbean Sea.

A U.S. Marine Corps AV-8B Harrier II launched from USS Iwo Jima and released live ordnance during a precision strike exercise over the Caribbean on October 2, 2025. While described as a training event, defense officials confirmed the mission occurred under operational conditions following a recent maritime confrontation with Venezuela.

A U.S. Marine Corps AV-8B Harrier II conducted a live-fire precision strike from the amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7) during an October 2, 2025, exercise over the Caribbean Sea, according to defense officials familiar with the operation. The Pentagon characterized the sortie as part of ongoing readiness training, but officials acknowledged that the mission was executed under “operational conditions” and carried strategic signaling value in light of rising regional tensions following a deadly maritime interdiction involving Venezuelan forces days earlier.
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A U.S. Marine Corps AV-8B Harrier II launches from the flight deck of USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7) during a live-fire strike exercise conducted by the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit while operating in the Caribbean Sea on October 2, 2025. The mission highlights forward-deployed U.S. naval air power amid escalating regional tensions. (Picture source: U.S. Department of War)

The USS Iwo Jima, currently deployed as part of an Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) alongside USS San Antonio and USS Fort Lauderdale, is carrying elements of the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable). These units are executing a sustained presence and strike readiness campaign in support of U.S. Southern Command objectives targeting transnational criminal organizations operating in and around Venezuela. According to multiple defense sources, the Harrier sortie simulated a kinetic strike on a cartel-affiliated maritime platform under real-time command and control conditions.

This comes amid escalating military and diplomatic tensions following the September 13 sinking of a Venezuelan-flagged boat by a U.S. Navy MH-60R Seahawk helicopter. That operation, which resulted in 11 deaths, was defended by U.S. officials as a legitimate counter-narcotics action. Venezuela, however, condemned the incident as an act of aggression. In the weeks that followed, Caracas deployed F-16 fighter aircraft to forward bases and activated coastal radar systems aimed at tracking U.S. naval activity. Intelligence reports indicate increased surveillance by Venezuelan naval and intelligence assets near U.S. maritime formations.

In this environment, the deployment of the AV-8B Harrier II acquires new relevance.

What is the AV-8B Harrier II?

The AV-8B Harrier II is a vertical and/or short takeoff and landing (V/STOL) aircraft fielded by the U.S. Marine Corps for close air support, deep strike, and armed reconnaissance missions. Designed to operate from amphibious assault ships, expeditionary runways, or austere forward bases, the Harrier’s STOVL capability allows it to project combat power without reliance on fixed airfields. Armed with a 25mm GAU-12/U cannon, precision-guided bombs, AGM-65 Maverick missiles, and AIM-9 Sidewinder air-to-air missiles, it is a versatile multirole aircraft suited for operations in complex littoral and low-intensity conflict zones.

Though slated for retirement by the end of 2026 as the Marine Corps transitions to the F-35B, the AV-8B remains fully operational and combat-deployable. Its role in the current Caribbean deployment reflects both its enduring tactical value and its ability to operate from sea in support of maritime security operations.

Potential Combat Missions Against Venezuelan Cartels

In the context of increasing U.S. pressure on Venezuela’s state-linked drug trafficking networks, the Harrier II offers a suite of mission capabilities that extend well beyond conventional air support.

First, the Harrier is capable of conducting precision strikes against fixed cartel infrastructure, such as jungle landing strips, illicit airfields, fuel depots, and narco-processing labs. Using GPS-guided GBU-38 JDAMs or laser-guided GBU-12 bombs, the aircraft can neutralize hardened or mobile targets without a large air footprint.

Second, the Harrier is highly effective in maritime interdiction. In coordination with Navy or Coast Guard boarding teams, it can provide kinetic overwatch, execute disabling strikes on fast-moving drug smuggling boats or semi-submersibles, and suppress hostile fire directed at U.S. personnel during intercept operations.

Third, the platform can deliver close air support to special operations forces operating inside hostile territory. Should Marine Raiders or Navy SEALs conduct direct action missions on cartel strongholds inside Venezuela, the Harrier can respond quickly from offshore, delivering high-precision strikes in support of ground forces.

Fourth, its presence in regional airspace has a psychological and deterrent effect. The sound of a low-flying Harrier, combined with visible armed patrols, creates disruption in cartel logistics and signals a U.S. willingness to escalate operations if provoked.

Finally, in an operational sense, the Harrier can support battlefield surveillance through sensor pods, helping to identify targets in heavily vegetated or mountainous terrain. While not a traditional ISR platform, its ability to perform armed reconnaissance makes it well-suited for identifying and eliminating cartel convoys or weapons caches in real time.

A Strategic Pivot in U.S. Posture

This live-fire demonstration is part of a wider campaign to reassert U.S. influence in the Caribbean and South America, where Washington views state-sponsored narcotics trafficking as a strategic threat. Officials at U.S. Southern Command have characterized the current deployment not as a training mission, but as an active forward presence aimed at dismantling transnational criminal organizations and deterring state complicity.

The Pentagon’s use of naval air power in this gray-zone environment reflects a calculated shift in doctrine. Amphibious strike groups such as the one led by Iwo Jima provide both flexibility and escalation dominance. The Harrier’s ability to conduct precise, unilateral strikes from sea without dependence on host-nation approval offers U.S. policymakers a powerful tool to apply pressure without committing to full-scale land operations.

While tensions remain high, the situation is fluid. With Venezuelan fighter aircraft now operating from dispersed forward bases and coastal forces conducting aggressive patrols, the risk of escalation or miscalculation has increased. However, the clear message from the United States is that its military is not merely conducting exercises; it is postured for action.

The AV-8B Harrier II, despite nearing the end of its service life, remains a frontline instrument of U.S. power projection. Its deployment in the Caribbean at this critical juncture affirms its value as a combat-proven, sea-based strike asset ready to support operations across the full spectrum of military engagement.

Written by Alain Servaes – Chief Editor, Army Recognition Group
Alain Servaes is a former infantry non-commissioned officer and the founder of Army Recognition. With over 20 years in defense journalism, he provides expert analysis on military equipment, NATO operations, and the global defense industry.