Two Venezuelan military aircraft flew over US Navy ship in ‘highly provocative move,’ Pentagon says
US Navy Ship Harassed by Venezuelan Military Aircraft During Counter-Drug Operation
A recent incident involving two Venezuelan military aircraft flying over a US Navy vessel conducting counter-drug operations has sparked tensions between the two countries. The Pentagon has labeled this maneuver as “highly provocative” following the US forces’ attack on a drug smuggling boat in the Caribbean Sea just two days prior, resulting in the death of 11 narco-terrorists.
In a statement, the Pentagon expressed concern over the Venezuelan military aircraft’s actions, which were perceived as an attempt to interfere with US counter narco-terror operations. The US military has warned the Maduro regime against further obstruction of their operations in the region.
According to reports, the Venezuelan military aircraft involved in the incident were armed F-16 fighter jets, and the targeted US vessel was the USS Jason Dunham, an Aegis guided-missile destroyer. The Pentagon has yet to provide further details on the matter.
As part of their efforts to combat drug trafficking, the Navy had deployed a fleet of eight ships, including three guided-missile destroyers, to the region. Earlier this year, the Trump administration designated Venezuelan crime syndicates Tren de Aragua and Cartel de Los Soles as foreign terrorist organizations.
The Trump administration has been vocal about Maduro’s alleged involvement in drug trafficking, accusing him of working with cartels to traffic narcotics, including fentanyl, into the US. This led to the Justice Department placing a $50 million bounty on Maduro’s head, citing his ties to the cartels as a threat to national security.
In response to the naval buildup in the Caribbean, Maduro referred to it as the “biggest threat” in the region in a century, accusing the US of attempting regime change in Venezuela. The situation remains tense as both countries navigate through these challenging circumstances.
