On 14/9, images circulated on social media showing six US Marine Corps F-35B stealth fighter jets landing at Roosevelt Roads base in Ceiba, Puerto Rico. According to civilian aviation tracking sites, the F-35B squadron originated from Marine Corps Air Station Yuma in Arizona, stopped in Florida, and refueled mid-air near Miami.
None of the aircraft displayed unit markings or tail codes. Howard Altman, editor of the US military website War Zone, suggests this could be a security measure to "protect forces involved in counter-narcotics operations".
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F-35B fighters at the base in Puerto Rico on 13/9. Photo: X/OSINT Warfare |
F-35B fighters at the base in Puerto Rico on 13/9. Photo: X/OSINT Warfare
The F-35Bs' mission remains undisclosed. A US defense official stated there are "no force posture changes to announce at this time". Puerto Rico, a US territory, is approximately 1,600 km from Florida and over 800 km from Venezuela's border.
Besides its strike capabilities, the F-35 boasts powerful intelligence-gathering systems, including radar, electro-optical sensors, and communications intercept equipment.
The F-35Bs can operate from the USS Iwo Jima, an amphibious assault ship currently deployed in the waters between Puerto Rico and Venezuela. "This gives commanders more flexibility in their operational planning," Altman commented.
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Location of Puerto Rico and Venezuela. Graphic: Britanica |
Location of Puerto Rico and Venezuela. Graphic: Britanica
The US has deployed eight warships and 4,500 marines to the southern Caribbean to combat drug trafficking. This represents one of the largest US military deployments to the Caribbean in years.
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro described the US military buildup in the Caribbean as the "greatest threat" to Venezuela in a century. He declared Venezuela ready for "armed struggle to defend national territory" and ordered the mobilization of regular troops and reservists.
Nguyen Tien (According to War Zone, AFP, AP)
