Venezuelan Air Force F-16 fighter jets were scrambled to intercept a group of US Air Force B-52H Stratofortress strategic bombers, which had been practicing strike scenarios against targets in the country from airspace over the Caribbean Sea in recent hours. Venezuelan military sources confirmed the interception occurred without incident.

According to monitoring resources, the American bombers were within missile launch range of Caracas, raising alarm among Venezuelan commanders. F-16s based at El Libertador Air Base were dispatched to visually monitor and escort the B-52s.

"We monitored their movements and made sure they did not violate our airspace." — said a representative of the Venezuelan Air Force.

This occurred amid President Donald Trump's announcements of military operations against drug trafficking off the coast of Venezuela, where six people were killed. American sources emphasize that the B-52 flight was a show of force, not a provocation. Venezuelan authorities, however, view such maneuvers as a threat to their sovereignty.