CARACAS, Venezuela (FN) — Reports circulating online about a mysterious “sonic weapon” allegedly used during a recent U.S. operation in Venezuela are drawing global attention, but defense analysts say the claims are far more dramatic than the evidence suggests.
Eyewitness accounts from Venezuelan security forces described sudden disorientation, nausea, and radar failure during the raid, prompting speculation that U.S. personnel deployed an exotic acoustic or directed‑energy device. Some witnesses claimed soldiers collapsed or experienced intense pressure waves, fueling theories of a secret “invisible weapon.”
Military experts, however, say the symptoms align with standard electronic warfare tools, not a classified sonic system.
Analysts note that radio‑frequency jamming, commonly used in modern operations, can disable radar, disrupt communications, and interfere with drone detection systems. Such effects may appear to observers as if an unknown force has “shut down” equipment.
Others point to explosive overpressure from flash‑bangs or breaching charges, which can cause temporary disorientation, nausea, or nosebleeds in close quarters. These devices are routinely used in raids and can easily be misinterpreted in chaotic conditions.
Defense researchers also say that acoustic crowd‑control devices, such as Long Range Acoustic Devices (LRADs), are known to cause discomfort and confusion but are not capable of producing the severe physical symptoms described in some online accounts.
Experts caution that battlefield confusion, nighttime operations, and rapid electronic disruption can create the impression of a single, powerful weapon even when multiple conventional tools are being used simultaneously.
“There is no verified evidence of a U.S. sonic weapon being deployed,” one analyst said. “Everything described so far fits with well‑known electronic warfare and tactical breaching methods.”
The Venezuelan government has not released technical data supporting the claims, and U.S. officials have not commented on the reports.
The incident has nonetheless fueled widespread speculation on social media, where videos and unverified testimony have amplified the narrative of a secret weapon. Analysts say such claims often emerge in high‑tension operations where technology, drones, and electronic interference converge.
