Venezuelan Air Force Challenges U.S. Navy

Venezuelan Air Force Challenges U.S. Navy

Illustrative image. (Bolivarian Military Aviation of Venezuela)

F-16 fighter jets of the Bolivarian Military Aviation of Venezuela flew over a United States Navy warship on September 4 in an apparent show of force as tensions boiled between the two countries.

In a statement, the Department of Defense warned Venezuela to cease further provocative moves, describing the incident as an attempt “to interfere with our counter-narco-terror operations”.

“Today, two Maduro regime military aircraft flew near a U.S. Navy vessel in international waters,” the statement reads. “The cartel running Venezuela is strongly advised not to pursue any further effort to obstruct, deter or interfere with counter-narcotics and counter-terror operations carried out by the U.S. military.”

Citing Defense Department officials, CBS News described the incident as a “show of force” involving two armed Venezuelan F-16s.

The outlet also identified the U.S. Navy warship as the Arleigh Burke class destroyer USS Jason Dunham. The Dunham is one of at least eight warships the administration of President Donald Trump deployed near Venezuela last month on a counter-drug cartel mission. More than 4,500 US service members, including some 2,200 Marines, are reported to be aboard the ships.

Also last month, Washington doubled the reward for the arrest of Venezuela President Nicolás Maduro to $50 million on drug trafficking charges.

Two other reports on the incident from The New York Times and The Associated Press also subsequently confirmed the involvement of Venezuelan F-16s.

Venezuela was the first Latin American country to get F-16 fighter jets from the U.S. In 1982, under the Peace Delta program, the country signed a deal to buy 18 F-16A Block 15s and six F-16B Block 15s. These fighter jets were delivered between 1983 and 1985

The readiness of Venezuela’s F-16 fleet began to deteriorate after Hugo Chávez was elected president in 1998, which caused a rift with the U.S.

As of 2025, there are conflicting reports on how many Venezuelan F-16s are still active. Some suggest up to 15, while others set the number at just three.

Venezuelan F-16s have no anti-shipping capabilities, and they are generally poorly armed. They have been only seen equipped with U.S.-made AIM-9L and Israeli-made Python IV heat-seeking short-range air-to-air missiles as well as Mark 82 and 82 unguided, general-purpose bombs.

However, the country’s air force operates a more capable fighter jet, the Su-30MK2. At least 24 Su-30MK2s were bought from Russia in July 2006, with deliveries completed between 2006 and 2008. Of the jets, 21 are still in service as of 2025. Venezuelan Su-30MK2 are armed with Kh-31A supersonic anti-ship cruise missiles, which have an active radar guidance system and a range of at least 70 kilometers.

Venezuela may have opted to send the older F-16s not to provoke the U.S. much. The incident was likely a response to a U.S. strike from September 2 on a boat that sailed off from the country. Washington alleged that the boat was carrying drugs for the Tren de Aragua gang and said that 11 people were killed in the strike, which was the first of its kind.

Notably, Venezuelan state media did not mention the reported F-16 incident. Instead, it covered Maduro announcing the first round activation of the country’s National Militia, whose ranks have been bolstered in recent weeks by new volunteers as threats from the U.S. intensify.

“[This is the] first time in history that the communal units of the militia will be activated, spanning the national map from north to south, from east to west, down to the last community,” Venezuela’s Noticias Venevision news outlet quoted Maduro as saying.

The U.S. counter-drug cartel operation is viewed by many, including close advisors to Trump himself, as a Caracas coup operation masquerading as drug enforcement. Venezuela, which has the world’s largest oil reserve, has every right to be very cautious.

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Necas

beware of the false flags.

hash
hashed
Imho

i saw the pussy u.s. navy couldn’t capture a small speed boat. so the murdering zionist bastard cowards used stand off weapons to kill them.

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Last edited 7 hours ago by Imho
the narrative

the rules based order in action !

protectourfreedumbs

ah, but they simply couldn’t take the risk, imho. that motor boat was such a threat to them. the 9,000 ton destroyer only had 5″, 20 and 25mm gun systems to defend itself, along with tomahawk missiles, various other missile systems, torpedoes and helicopters. so the captain changed his diapers and couldn’t get too close. another great victory to add to the annals of the jewsa navy. give that man a nedal.

zman

nobel prize hunting peace president. what a fucking joke. i wonder what or who he’ll attack today. he doesn’t know, he hasn’t been told yet. what a deep state maroon.

hash
hashed
Mia

محافظة دير الزور: هزّت جريمة مروّعة قرية بقرص بريف الميادين شرقي دير الزور، صباح اليوم، بعدما عثر الأهالي على جثة شاب قاصر يبلغ من العمر 15 عاماً مقتولاً بظروف غامضة على ضفاف نهر الفرات.
وأفادت مصادر خاصة للمرصد السوري أن الجثة كانت مشوّهة بشكل مروّع في منطقة الصدر، الأمر

Mia

الذي أثار صدمة ورعباً كبيرين بين السكان المحليين.
قوات الأمن الداخلي سارعت إلى المكان، ونقلت الجثة لفتح تحقيق موسع في ملابسات الجريمة.
وبدوره يؤكد المرصد السوري أن هذه الجريمة تمثل تصعيداً خطيراً في الانتهاكات بحق المدنيين والأطفال على وجه الخصوص، وتشير إلى مستوى

Mia

مرعب من العنف الذي يهدد المجتمع المحلي.
وبذلك، بلغ عدد الجرائم الجنائية والقتل ضد مجهول، منذ مطلع العام 2025 في محافظات سورية متفرقة 266 جريمة راح ضحيتها، 294 شخص هم: 230 رجل، و 19 طفل، و44 سيدة توزعوا على النحو التالي

human organs trade

Conan M

venezuela oil “now” as the pivot for pox americana… when you know russia’s kicking ass and taking names…

Last edited 6 hours ago by Conan M
Fly Navy

the su-30mk2s with kh-31a supersonic anti-ship cruise missiles with russian pilots would have a high probability of success not so much with venezuelans. maduro is no hugo chávez. with maduro there is a chance of taking the bait. the consequences for him and venezuela would be grim. the drug runners are no different than samali pirates that russia deals with in the same way.

hash
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the narrative

when a mineral and energy rich nation wishes self determination . it becomes a cartel in us rhetoric. venezuela has no need to sell drugs it is exceptionally wealthy. but with nationalized oil all venezuelan individually profit from any sales.

hash
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Krieg dem kriege

it is a good thing that none of the pilots decided to become a kamikaze.

hash
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Regime Change for Murica!

why are these anglo-americans crying, if this took place in international waters.

hash
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the narrative

propaganda is the largest weapon they have. the eye of sauron type spy agencies do the bidding of corporations only

coup of maduro

venezuela was surrounded by u.s warships .

1500 missiles,

4500 troops wait for
trumps order.

maduro may go soon with military coup all usa newspapers write this today.

hash
hashed
Regime Change for Murica!

usa is king of deceptive fake news.

the narrative

but they still pay no taxes, have free healthcare and education and control own their oil. despite any propagandized rhetoric installed talking points your mind might repeat.

Ramses

you must be inferior stupefied americunt species

ursula plane sabotage

ursula von der lying and bulgarian p.m says together that,
ursula’s plane sabotaged by russia.

in fact bulgarians made sabotage to ursula von der lying’s plane and bulgarian p.m said russia did it.

bulgaria claim russia made it.

even earthquake occurs in bulgaria,
bulgaria say russia did it.

bugarian people are angry to ursula von der lying so much,
the reason is eurozona entrance (euro)

thats why bulgaria sabotaged ursula von der lying’s plane with jammer gps 5km distance.

Last edited 3 hours ago by ursula plane sabotage
protectourfreedumbs

the amerikunts murdered 11 persons in a small open boat in international waters off the coast of venezuela, 2,000 miles from the jewsa. the boat, occupants and contents were destroyed, and with it any evidence of drug dealing. drugs, weapons, passports, documents, mobile phones. apparently the boat was such a threat to the navy armada there was no attempt to seize it for evidence or intelligence. it is extremely unlikely a boat of that size could reach the jewsa without multiple refuellings.

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protectourfreedumbs

for all we know they could have been going out for a day’s fishing or dolphin watching. another collateral murder. but of course they’re only brown skinned beaners, so it’s not as if their lives matter. chalk up another great victory for the jewsa navy, to go with midway or the marianas. i expect it will be medals of honour all round at the white house soon from a beaming chumpo.

the narrative

assassinations without any evidence. a coast guard job only by international law. the hypothetical rules based order does not follow rules

Last edited 2 hours ago by the narrative
the narrative

this was most likely a simple fishing boat from my film analysis. besides all smuggled drugs to the usa come through mexican cartels. these drug cartels completely control all elected and non elected officials in mexico. public objection to this means certain death by assassination

Ramses

americunt navy all queer sodomized by taliban 20 years

hash
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