Overview
- Two U.S. Navy F/A-18s flew over the Gulf of Venezuela for roughly 30–40 minutes, and a defense official said the mission stayed in international airspace as routine training.
- Flightradar24 showed the aircraft in real time, making them the most‑tracked flights on the platform at the time.
- The sortie is reported as the closest U.S. warplanes have come to Venezuelan airspace during the current pressure campaign, after earlier B‑52 and B‑1 flights remained farther offshore.
- The overflight coincides with a major U.S. regional buildup and a lethal campaign against suspected drug‑smuggling boats, with at least 87 deaths in 22 strikes since early September.
- Lawmakers are pressing for unedited video of the maritime strikes, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is weighing release after briefing congressional leaders, and President Trump said Nicolás Maduro’s “days are numbered” while not ruling out ground forces.