US military helicopters, allegedly from the same unit used in high-risk special operations including the 2011 raid that killed Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden, were reportedly spotted flying just off Trinidad’s north-eastern coast, and miles from Venezuela earlier this month.

Imagery proliferated on social media between October 7 and 8 appeared to show MH-6 Little Bird and MH-60 Black Hawk helicopters flying over open water near oil and gas platforms.

A Washington Post analysis of the footage and images published yesterday suggested that the aircraft were likely within 90 miles of several points of Venezuela’s shoreline, off Trinidad’s north-eastern terrain.