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The USS San Antonio (LPD-17), an amphibious transport ship of the United States Navy, arrived this Thursday at La Guaira Port to reinforce humanitarian aid operations following the devastating earthquakes that struck Venezuela on June 24, 2026.
According to SOUTHCOM, the U.S. forces deployed at the port operate a communications and distribution hub to deliver emergency assistance to the areas most affected by the earthquakes.
"U.S. forces at the port operate a communications and distribution hub to deliver life-saving assistance to the most affected areas," SOUTHCOM reported in a statement.
Along with the arrival of the ship, journalist Andrews Abreu documented the operation of a U.S. Marine Corps LCAC hovercraft at the port of La Guaira, adding logistical capacity to the operation.
The USS San Antonio is the second amphibious ship to arrive in La Guaira. Previously, the USS Fort Lauderdale (LPD-28) had arrived at the port and was functioning as a logistical center for storing and distributing food, water, and medicines.
The amphibious group also includes the USS Iwo Jima (LHD-7), capable of deploying up to three LCAC hovercrafts.
In total, the operation involves more than 4,500 sailors, including about 2,200 Marines from the 22nd Expeditionary Unit. Six C-17 Globemaster aircraft previously transported a Combat Logistics Company with heavy equipment and water purification capabilities from North Carolina.
The deployment is carried out under the direction of SOUTHCOM and in support of operations led by the Department of State, following the formal request of the Venezuelan government.
The earthquakes on June 24 with magnitudes of 7.2 and 7.5 represent the largest seismic disaster in Venezuela in over a century. As of July 7, the official toll reported 3,685 dead and 16,740 injured, with more than 17,300 people left homeless and 190 buildings completely collapsed.
The U.S. response has gradually escalated since day one. President Trump initially authorized 150 million dollars on June 25, a figure that was raised to over 300 million on July 1.
As of July 8, the State Department reported that the total assistance from the U.S. exceeded 386 million dollars, benefiting approximately 70,000 people with over 400 metric tons of supplies delivered.
According to data from Infobae, the total accumulated international aid as of the close of Thursday amounts to 780 million dollars, while the operation has already transitioned from the search and rescue phase to humanitarian aid and recovery.
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