Venezuelan F-16s Fly Over U.S. Navy Destroyer Amid Rising Tensions

On Thursday, two Venezuelan F-16 fighter jets conducted a flyover of the U.S. Navy guided-missile destroyer Jason Dunham, which was stationed in the southern Caribbean Sea. This action has been interpreted as a demonstration of military presence amid escalating conflicts between the Trump administration and Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. According to a Defense Department official, the U.S. warship did not respond to the incident, highlighting a restraint in military engagement.

In a statement released by the Pentagon on Thursday evening, it was emphasized that the flyover was a provocative act aimed at disrupting U.S. counter-narcotics operations. The Pentagon specifically cautioned the Venezuelan cartel against further attempts to obstruct or interfere with U.S. military efforts in combating drug trafficking and terrorism in the region. The incident occurred shortly after the U.S. military launched a strike against a Venezuelan vessel suspected of carrying illegal drugs, leading to the reported deaths of eleven members of the Tren de Aragua gang, whose surrender status during the engagement remains uncertain.