Explaining the sonic weapon claims tied to the US raid in Venezuela

The article addresses widespread claims circulating on social media that U.S. special forces used a mysterious “sonic weapon” to incapacitate Venezuelan security forces during the raid that led to Nicolás Maduro’s capture. These claims stem from a viral video interview with an unidentified Venezuelan guard who described severe physical symptoms—such as bleeding, disorientation, and vomiting—allegedly caused by an intense sound-like effect. The rumor gained further attention after White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt shared the interview. However, no independent verification or official confirmation from the Pentagon or U.S. Southern Command has emerged, and both declined to comment beyond standard operational security statements. The article reviews known U.S. research into non-lethal technologies, including the Active Denial System (ADS), a millimeter-wave “pain ray,” and Long Range Acoustic Devices (LRADs), which emit loud, focused sound. Neither system aligns well with the symptoms described by the Venezuelan guard. Another experimental technology, Electrom