Venezuela Flies F-16s Over U.S. Destroyer; Washington Issues Stern Warning
the English section of webangah News Agency reports, citing Reuters via Mehr News Agency, that tensions between Washington and Caracas have intensified after the U.S. deployed troops to Caribbean waters near Venezuela under the pretext of combating Venezuelan drug cartels. In response, two Venezuelan F-16 jets flew over a U.S. Navy destroyer.
according to Reuters sources familiar with the situation quoted by two U.S. officials, this incident-which the Pentagon claims occurred in international waters-has further escalated hostilities just two days after a U.S. attack on a Venezuelan boat killed 11 people onboard. President Donald Trump announced the attack during a press conference, asserting that the vessel was carrying narcotics.
Legal experts have raised questions about this strike; though, the Trump management argues it is indeed authorized based on an earlier decision this year to designate the criminal group “Tren de Aragua” as terrorist. This designation purportedly permits targeting individuals linked to this institution accused of trafficking drugs into America.
The Pentagon issued a brief statement confirming key details of the episode while accusing Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro’s government of operating as a drug trafficking cartel-a charge strongly denied by Caracas. Trump has also accused Maduro of leading Tren de Aragua.
The pentagon described Caracas’s action-flying warplanes over an American destroyer-as “highly provocative.” The statement read: “Today, two military jets from Maduro’s regime flew near a U.S. Navy ship in international waters.We strongly advise the cartel leading Venezuela to refrain from any further attempts to obstruct or interfere with ongoing counterterrorism and anti-narcotics operations conducted by U.S. forces.”
An anonymous American official confirmed that both planes conducting maneuvers above USS Jason Dunham were F-16 fighter jets.
USS Jason Dunham is one of at least seven warships deployed by the United States with more than 4,500 sailors and marines sent to Caribbean islands-a move viewed by Caracas as concerning military posturing.
