Diyar Guldogan and Beyza Binnur Donmez
25 June 2026•Update: 26 June 2026
The US Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) said Thursday that it is coordinating with the State Department and international partners to support relief operations in Venezuela following devastating earthquakes that struck the country a day earlier.
"Our joint forces are moving quickly to bring the unmatched airlift, logistics and lifesaving capabilities of the US military to help save lives and support the government of Venezuela during this crisis," it said in a statement.
The command said it has established an operational planning team to coordinate disaster response activities.
The death toll from two powerful earthquakes that struck Venezuela has risen to 235 with more than 4,300 injured, Venezuela’s Health Ministry said late Thursday.
In a post on the US social media platform X, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington is “mounting an immediate response and mobilizing support for the Venezuelan people affected by earthquakes.”
"We've deployed search-and-rescue teams and are providing consular assistance to Americans and their families," he added.
The US Treasury Department said on X that it issued Venezuela General License 60 to expand authorizations supporting emergency earthquake relief efforts.
The department said the license provides "additional clarity and certainty" for those seeking to deliver assistance to affected communities, “enabling them to focus on supporting affected communities and advancing recovery efforts in Venezuela.”
It added that US sanctions programs include broad authorizations for humanitarian activities.
Separately, the US Southern Command said it is deploying available US military forces in the region to support State Department-led relief operations after interim Venezuelan authorities formally requested assistance.
SOUTHCOM said on X that the deployment includes the amphibious transport ship USS Fort Lauderdale, the littoral combat ship USS Billings and C-17 Globemaster and C-130 Hercules transport aircraft, as well as reconnaissance platforms and rotary-wing aircraft.
The command said the forces will support US government personnel, search and rescue teams and interagency partners as they assess damage, locate injured people and deliver life-saving assistance.
Late Wednesday, Venezuela’s acting President Delcy Rodriguez declared a national state of emergency after the earthquakes struck the country's northern Caribbean coast, causing widespread damage and triggering tsunami warnings across the region.
The US Geological Survey (USGS) estimates a 42% chance that the death toll could be between 10,000 and 100,000. La Guaira, near Caracas, is the state most affected by the magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 earthquakes.
