US says Venezuelan aircraft flew over navy vessel in international waters
Pentagon calls the incident ‘highly provocative’ and warns Venezuela not to interfere with US counter-narcotics operations
Two Venezuelan military aircraft flew over an American naval vessel in international waters off the coast, according to the Pentagon, a fresh escalation between the two adversaries after the US struck a speedboat purportedly carrying drugs from the country.
“This highly provocative manoeuvre was designed to interfere with our counter-narcotics operations,” the Pentagon said. It said the “cartel” running Venezuela is “strongly advised” not to interfere with any other operations by the US.
The Pentagon did not immediately offer any further information such as how close the jets got to the US ship or where exactly the US vessel was located when the incident occurred. The Venezuelan Information Ministry did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The New York Times reported, citing a US defence official, that two Venezuelan F-16 fighter jets flew over the US Navy guided-missile destroyer Jason Dunham in the southern Caribbean Sea. The US warship did not engage, the US official was cited as saying by the newspaper.
CBS News said the fighter jets were armed. Venezuela possesses 15 F-16 fighter jets bought from the United States in the 1980s. Venezuela also has jets bought from ally Russia.
Days before the claimed fly-by, the US had struck a purported drug-smuggling vessel in the Caribbean Sea it said was headed from Venezuela, killing all 11 people aboard in a strike that drew criticism at home and abroad over the apparent killing of civilians.