At least one US B-1B bomber flew over the Caribbean off the coast of Venezuela on Thursday, flight-tracking data platforms showed, although Donald Trump assured reporters that this was “false.”

This is the second show of force by US aircraft in a week.

The flight of the The bombing comes amid an aggressive military campaign against suspected drug traffickers in the region, with at least nine attacks on boats in the Caribbean and Pacific, and a death toll of at least 37.

Data from the tracking website Flightradar24 reviewed by AFP showed a B-1B flying toward the Venezuelan coast on Thursday afternoon before turning around and heading north, after which it disappeared from sight.

At a White House event, when asked whether the United States had sent B-1Bs near Venezuela, President Trump responded that it was “false.”

The United States “is not happy with Venezuela for many reasons,” he added.

Trump also spoke out sharply against Colombia and Mexico, which he considered countries under the control of drug traffickers.

Trump reiterated his insults against President Gustavo Petro, whom he called a “thug” and a “bad guy.”

Regional tensions

At another point, the president was asked if he believed that fentanyl, which is the drug that causes the most victims in the United States, passed through Venezuela from China, to which he responded affirmatively, without giving further details.

A week ago, B-52 bombers based in the United States flew off the coast of Venezuela for several hours.

The US military described that mission as a demonstration of Washington's commitment "to proactively deter threats from adversaries, improve crew training and ensure the readiness of the global force necessary to respond to any contingency or challenge."

The United States has deployed stealth warplanes, ships and special troops,but has yet to provide evidence that its targets, eight boats and a submarine, were smuggling drugs.

Regional tensions have escalated as a result of the campaign.

Venezuela accuses the United States of plotting to overthrow President Nicolas Maduro, who said Wednesday that his country has 5,000 Russian portable surface-to-air missiles to counter U.S. forces.