The USS Iwo Jima (LHD-7), an amphibious assault ship, made its return to the port of Ponce in southern Puerto Rico last Thursday. This arrival comes four months after the completion of Operation Absolute Resolution, the mission that led to the capture of Nicolás Maduro on the orders of President Donald Trump.
Documented by Puerto Rican photographer Michael Bonet, the ship was photographed at 8:05 AM on May 7, as the Wasp-class vessel was guided into port by tugboats.
The USS Iwo Jima served as the initial holding site for Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, after their capture in Caracas on January 3, 2026. It was from its deck that Trump released the first photo of the Venezuelan dictator—his face obscured, surrounded by armed personnel—on his social media platform, Truth Social.
Following his capture, Maduro was moved from the Iwo Jima to the Guantánamo Bay Naval Base and subsequently to New York, where he arrived in handcuffs at DEA offices to face federal charges.
Continued Military Presence in the Caribbean
After the downfall of the Venezuelan leader, members of the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit continued their training missions in the Caribbean aboard the same ship. Recent reports from the Southern Command highlight exercises such as fast-rope descents from MH-60S Seahawk helicopters and landing operations involving MV-22B Osprey tiltrotor aircraft.
Upon its arrival in Ponce, the ship carried at least 10 V-22 Ospreys and one SH-60 Seahawk helicopter on its flight deck.
During one training session, Lance Corporal Chukwuemeka E. Oforah, 21, tragically fell overboard from the USS Iwo Jima on the night of February 7 while the ship was active in the Caribbean Sea. A 72-hour search and rescue mission involving five ships and ten aircraft concluded with the Marine Corps declaring him deceased on February 10.
Operation Spear of the South
The return of the Iwo Jima to Puerto Rico aligns with the ongoing Operation Spear of the South, officially launched on September 1, 2025, under the command of General Francis L. Donovan from the Southern Command. This operation aims to combat drug trafficking in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific through intensive surveillance and decisive strikes.
By mid-April, the operation had conducted around 52 kinetic strikes, resulting in the elimination of over 163 individuals. On May 4 and 5, just days before the Iwo Jima's return to Ponce, the Joint Task Force neutralized two suspected drug traffickers on a boat in the Caribbean, and another lethal strike followed on May 9.
U.S. forces appear committed to maintaining their vigilance against drug cartels in the Caribbean at least until the end of Trump's second term in the White House.
Key Details About the USS Iwo Jima and U.S. Military Efforts
What was the USS Iwo Jima's role in the capture of Nicolás Maduro?
The USS Iwo Jima served as the initial holding site for Nicolás Maduro and his wife following their capture in Caracas on January 3, 2026.
What is the purpose of Operation Spear of the South?
Operation Spear of the South aims to combat drug trafficking in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific through surveillance and targeted strikes.
Who is leading Operation Spear of the South?
The operation is led by General Francis L. Donovan, commander of the Southern Command.