Tensions Escalate: Venezuela Flies Military Jets Near U.S. Navy Ship for Second Time in Days
Tensions Escalate: Venezuela Flies Military Jets Near U.S. Navy Ship for Second Time in Days
In a rapidly developing situation, Venezuelan military aircraft have flown in the vicinity of the USS Jason Dunham in international waters near South America for the second time in two days, multiple Defense Department officials confirmed Friday. Describing the encounters as a “game of chicken,” officials reported that F-16 fighter jets flew over the Aegis guided-missile destroyer sometime overnight Thursday, following a similar incident earlier that day.
The USS Jason Dunham did not engage the Venezuelan aircraft, which were reportedly within weapons range for both the jets and the ship. The Pentagon had previously called Thursday’s incident a “highly provocative move” designed to interfere with U.S. counter-narco-terror operations.
President Trump, addressing the escalating situation, warned of potential repercussions if Venezuelan jets continued to fly in a dangerous position, stating that U.S. captains would be empowered to make decisions. This comes after the White House announced a U.S. military strike on an alleged Venezuelan drug-trafficking boat Tuesday, which Mr. Trump stated resulted in 11 fatalities. The administration linked the boat to the Tren de Aragua gang, designated a foreign terrorist organization.
The Dunham is part of a U.S. warship flotilla recently deployed to the region to target criminal organizations and narco-terrorism. Further intensifying the U.S. presence, sources confirmed Friday that 10 F-35 fighter jets are being sent to the Caribbean for operations targeting drug cartels.
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