US Venezuela strikes: F-35 jets join Caribbean anti-cartel ops

US Venezuela strikes target drug cartels as F-35 jets and naval forces deploy. Maduro mobilizes military amid rising tensions with Washington.The United States is weighing military action against drug cartels in Venezuela. Advanced F-35 stealth fighter jets have joined a growing US presence in the Caribbean. Washington aims to pressure President Nicolas Maduro while targeting groups it calls “narco-terrorist organizations.”

F-35 Jets Deploy to Puerto Rico

President Donald Trump ordered ten F-35 stealth jets to move to an airfield in Puerto Rico. These jets will support US naval operations targeting drug trafficking networks linked to Venezuela. The deployment marks a sharp rise in US-Venezuela tensions.

US Naval Build-Up Near Venezuela

The F-35 deployment complements a larger US military presence in the southern Caribbean. Seven warships, including a nuclear-powered fast-attack submarine, have stationed near Venezuelan waters with over 4,500 sailors and Marines.

On Thursday, the US Department of Defense called Venezuela’s F-16 flights near the USS Jason Dunham “highly provocative.” Trump warned that Venezuelan jets threatening US ships could be shot down.

Maduro Mobilizes Venezuela’s Military

Maduro has mobilized the military and militia, claiming more than eight million personnel are ready. He urged the US to respect Venezuela’s sovereignty and insisted on dialogue despite disagreements.

Maduro warned that an attack would trigger armed resistance, showing the high stakes in the standoff.

Targeting Cartels in the Caribbean

US forces struck a speedboat earlier this week linked to the Tren de Aragua cartel, killing 11 people. Venezuelan authorities condemned the attack as an “extrajudicial killing.” Legal experts questioned its legality.

Senator Marco Rubio defended the strike, calling the cartels immediate threats because of their cocaine and fentanyl shipments to the United States.

Rising Tensions Between Washington and Caracas

Trump clarified that the US does not plan regime change. Yet, the combination of F-35 jets, naval deployments, and targeted strikes reflects a hardline approach against both the cartels and Maduro.

Experts warn that continued US military action could escalate the conflict and destabilize the region further.

US Venezuela strikes.