TL/DR –
Venezuelan military aircraft, reportedly F-16 fighter jets, flew near the USS Jason Dunham, an Aegis guided-missile destroyer, in international waters for the second time in two days. The Pentagon described the incident as a “highly provocative move” potentially interfering with U.S. counter narco-terror operations. This follows recent moves by the U.S. military, including a strike on a suspected drug-trafficking boat from Venezuela and the dispatch of 10 F-35 fighter jets to the Caribbean for operations targeting drug cartels.
Venezuela Aircraft Fly Near US Navy Ship
On two consecutive days, Venezuelan military planes flew near the USS Jason Dunham near South America in international waters, according to Defense Department officials. This pattern is likened to a \”game of chicken.\”
F-16 fighter jets, as identified by a Defense Department official, flew over the Dunham on Thursday night. The armed status of the aircraft was not confirmed.
The Dunham, an Aegis missile destroyer, did not respond even though the aircraft was within weapons range. This followed a similar incident earlier on the same day in which two F-16 fighter jets also flew over the Dunham. The Pentagon described this as a \”provocative move\” intended to disrupt counter narco-terror operations.
The Dunham is part of a U.S. warships fleet sent to the region in recent weeks by the Pentagon to target narco-terrorism and criminal organizations.
President Trump warned that Venezuela could be \”in trouble\” if its aircraft continued to fly dangerously close to U.S. Navy vessels. He gave military command the discretion to respond to such incidents.
On Tuesday, the White House declared the U.S. military had launched a strike on a suspected drug-trafficking boat from Venezuela that resulted in 11 deaths. The targeted boat was allegedly operated by the Tren de Aragua gang, identified by the White House as a foreign terrorist organization.
In related news, 10 F-35 fighter jets are being dispatched by the U.S. to the Caribbean for operations against drug cartels.
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