Two Venezuelan fighter jets fly over US warship in ‘show of force’

Two Venezuelan F-16 fighter jets flew over one of the U.S. warships stationed in the Caribbean on Thursday in what the Department of Defense has described as a “show of force.” In a post on X, the Pentagon confirmed reports from several local outlets. “This highly provocative move was designed to interfere with our counter narco-terror operations,” the statement said. “The cartel running Venezuela is strongly advised not to pursue any effort to obstruct, deter, or interfere with counter-narcotics and counter-terrorism operations carried out by the U.S. military.”

The USS Jason Dunham, which was the target of the move, is an Aegis guided-missile destroyer and is part of the fleet recently deployed by the United States to the region to, according to U.S. authorities, strike criminal organizations. The deployment has heightened tensions with the Chavista regime of Nicolás Maduro, who is accused by the United States of leading a drug trafficking cartel.

It is unclear what actions the Dunham took in response to the fighter jets’ flyover, which marks the latest escalation in a confrontation that has put unprecedented pressure on Venezuela — especially after Tuesday’s U.S. strike on a boat allegedly loaded with drugs that had departed from Venezuela. None of the 11 crew members on board, accused of belonging to the Tren de Aragua gang, survived what appears to have been a missile strike, according to images released by U.S. authorities.

In response to the U.S. mobilization, Venezuela has deployed troops to the border and called on militias and civilians to prepare for a possible foreign military incursion. And on Monday, during a press conference with international media, President Maduro warned: “If Venezuela is attacked, we would declare an armed struggle and a Republic in arms.”

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