Five U.S. F-35 fighter jets landed in Puerto Rico following President Trump's order to bolster Caribbean military presence amid rising tensions with Venezuela.
Five U.S. Air Force F-35 stealth fighters touched down at the former Roosevelt Roads base in Ceiba, Puerto Rico, on Saturday, according to Reuters photographer Ricky Arduengo. Their arrival follows a recent directive by President Donald Trump to deploy 10 F-35s to the Caribbean, part of a broader effort to target drug cartels operating in the region.
The deployment comes against the backdrop of intensifying tensions with Venezuela. Earlier this week, U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and the country’s top general made an unannounced visit to Puerto Rico. Military activity at the base has reportedly increased, with sightings of helicopters, Osprey aircraft, and transport planes.
While the Pentagon has not officially confirmed any changes to force posture, sources told Reuters that the F-35s are intended for counter-narcotics operations. This follows last week’s U.S. strike on a Venezuelan vessel, which Washington claimed was carrying illegal drugs. The operation killed 11 people, though Caracas disputes the U.S. version, insisting the victims were not traffickers.
On Friday, a new flashpoint emerged when Venezuela accused the U.S. Navy of illegally boarding a Venezuelan tuna fishing boat in its Special Economic Zone. Venezuelan officials said the ship, manned by nine fishermen, posed no threat and called the U.S. action hostile and illegal. U.S. officials have not commented on the allegation.
The F-35 deployment adds a potent new dimension to U.S. presence in the region. The jets, considered among the most advanced combat aircraft in the world, could easily outmatch Venezuela’s ageing air force, which includes F-16 fighters.
President Trump has denied that the U.S. seeks regime change in Venezuela, but the latest military movements suggest a firm posture as Washington ramps up pressure on the Maduro government.
Russia has violated an energy ceasefire announced by U.S. President Donald Trump, Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelen...
Here's your AnewZ Daily Brief for 12 October 2026 with the top five natural disasters happening around the world. ...
One person was killed and nearly a dozen hurt in a new attack Riyadh's international airport on Sunday, Saudi ...
The explosion at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh on Saturday afternoon killed at least 12 people and injured a further 309, according to Saudi Arabia’s Civil Aviation Authority. The airport remains closed until further notice.
Yemen's Houthis renewed warning to airlines, airport workers, and travellers against using Saudi airports, saying the warning should be taken seriously and that the kingdom “bore responsibility for failed interceptions”, a day after an attack on Riyadh's international airport that killed 12 people.
One person was killed and nearly a dozen hurt in a new attack Riyadh's international airport on Sunday, Saudi authorities reported, a day after a strike claimed by Yemen's Houthis that killed 13 people and wounded more than 300.
The Houthi movement has escalated their attacks on Saudi Arabia, targeting the airport in Riyadh and other cities, killing more than a dozen people.
Ukraine is ready to stop attacks on Russian oil refineries if Moscow also halts strikes on Ukrainian energy infrastructure, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Sunday.
Russia has violated an energy ceasefire announced by U.S. President Donald Trump, Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Monday, urging Washington to step in to ensure that Moscow abided by the terms of the putative agreement.
Here's your AnewZ Daily Brief for 12 October 2026 with the top five natural disasters happening around the world.
The Houthi movement has escalated their attacks on Saudi Arabia, targeting the airport in Riyadh and other cities, killing more than a dozen people.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Monday that Ukraine is ready to respect the energy ceasefire announced by U.S. President Donald Trump, but only if Russia does the same, saying Moscow has already violated the agreement.
China has announced sanctions against Belize’s foreign minister and Paraguay’s communications minister over their countries’ diplomatic ties with Taiwan. The move comes as Beijing continues to pressure the few remaining nations that maintain formal diplomatic relations with Taipei.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment