WASHINGTON – In an escalation of its anti-narco-terrorist campaign in the Caribbean, the U.S. is deploying 10 F-35 fighter jets to an airfield in Puerto Rico to target drug cartels, Reuters reported.
The F-35 fighter jets will be added to the U.S. military presence in the southern Caribbean, which includes warships that have been deployed in recent weeks to support the anti-drug operation.
The planes are expected to arrive in the area by late next week, Reuters reported, citing two sources briefed on the matter.
In a separate development, the Department of Defense has issued a warning to the Venezuelan government after two of its military aircraft flew near a U.S. Navy vessel in international waters.
“This highly provocative move was designed to interfere with our counter narco-terror operations,” the Department of Defense said.
U.S. Florida Republican Rep. Carlos Gimenez, a member of the House Armed Services Committee reacted, saying, “I can assure you that criminal narcodictator Nicolás Maduro’s latest maneuver amounts to an obscene escalation that will not be taken lightly.”
🚨As a Member of the Armed Services Committee, I can assure you that criminal narcodictator Nicolas Maduro’s latest maneuver amounts to an obsecene escalation that will not be