Overview

• The Pentagon said two Venezuelan F-16s flew near the USS Jason Dunham in international waters and called the overflight a highly provocative attempt to interfere with operations.
• Reuters reported the United States will send ten F-35 fighters to an airfield in Puerto Rico for missions against designated narcoterrorist groups, with arrivals expected by late next week.
• U.S. forces earlier destroyed a vessel they said carried drugs from Venezuela, killing 11 people identified by Washington as members of Tren de Aragua, as Caracas denounced the action as extrajudicial and legal justifications remained undisclosed.
• Venezuela raised military alert levels, activated militia and reservists, and moderated an initial claim that U.S. attack footage was generated by AI while lodging diplomatic protests.
• Local outlet El Pitazo reported the struck boat departed San Juan de Unare en route to Trinidad and Tobago, as regional bodies urged restraint and the United States maintained a $50 million reward while accusing Nicolás Maduro of leading the Cartel de los Soles.