The U.S. is sending 10 F-35 fighter jets to the Caribbean for operations focusing on drug cartels, a supply aware of the plans confirmed Friday.
Tensions with Venezuela have been rising over the drug commerce and the lethal U.S. strike earlier this week on a boat carrying alleged drug traffickers and narcotics.
Reuters first reported the deployment of the F-35 fighter jets.
In late August, the U.S. assigned three Aegis guided-missile destroyers — the united statesGravely, the united statesJason Dunham and the united statesSampson — to deploy to the waters off Venezuela as a part of President Trump’s effort to fight threats from Latin American drug cartels.
On Thursday, two armed Venezuelan F-16 fighter jets flew over the Dunham, based on a number of Protection Division officers who described the motion as a “present of drive.”
CBS Information was unable to find out what actions the Dunham took, if any, in response to the flyover.
Mr. Trump has been pushing to be used of the U.S. navy to thwart cartels he blames for the stream of fentanyl and different illicit medication into American cities and communities.
Charlie D’Agata and
contributed to this report.
