Two US fighter jets circle Gulf of Venezuela in escalation of hostilities

The Guardian - World NewsCenter-LeftEN 2 min read 100% complete by Roque PlanasDecember 10, 2025 at 03:37 AM

AI Summary

medium article 2 min

Two US fighter jets, F/A-18 Super Hornets, circled the Gulf of Venezuela for about 40 minutes on Tuesday, monitored in real-time by Venezuelans and South American media. The flights occurred north of Maracaibo, Venezuela, prompting claims from Venezuela that the US violated its national territory. The US Department of Defense stated the flights were routine operations in international airspace, conducted to protect the homeland, monitor illicit activity, and support stability. This event occurs amid rising tensions between the US and Venezuela, fueled by the Trump administration's military campaign against drug traffickers, which has resulted in casualties and criticism over potential extrajudicial killings. Trump has stated his intent to extend the military campaign into Venezuelan territory.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Pentagon 50% Venezuela ×460% United States ×370% Nicolás Maduro ×280%

Keywords

gulf of venezuela 90% us fighter jets 90% escalation of hostilities 80% nicolás maduro 70% drug traffickers 70% military operations 60% international airspace 60% venezuelan territory 50% international law 50%