CBS News, citing unnamed US defense officials, reported that a Venezuelan military aircraft "buzzed" the destroyer USS Jason Dunham in international waters near South America on the night of 5/9. This was the second such incident in two days, despite warnings from Washington, leading US officials to believe the actions could escalate into a "game of chicken."

A Pentagon official described the aircraft as an F-16 fighter jet, the same type involved in a similar incident the previous day. US officials did not say whether the Venezuelan jet was armed, but confirmed the USS Jason Dunham did not retaliate.

USS Jason Dunham conducts exercises in the US Central Command (CENTCOM) area of operations in March. Photo: US Navy

USS Jason Dunham conducts exercises in the US Central Command (CENTCOM) area of operations in March. Photo: US Navy

The US Department of Defense has not commented on the reports. The agency previously condemned the 4/9 incident involving two Venezuelan F-16 fighter jets approaching a US destroyer as "highly provocative," claiming the move was intended to obstruct counter-narcotics operations.

President Donald Trump warned on 5/9 that he would order Venezuelan military aircraft to be shot down if they posed a threat to US forces operating in the region. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro later said that disagreements between Caracas and Washington, both past and present, should not lead to military conflict.

The USS Jason Dunham is one of several assets deployed by the US in the southern Caribbean Sea as part of an operation targeting criminal organizations and drug cartels in the region. Observers believe this is also a move to pressure the government of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.

A US defense official said this week that 8 warships are currently involved in counter-narcotics operations in Latin America: three amphibious assault ships, two destroyers, a cruiser, and a littoral combat ship in the Caribbean, along with a destroyer in the eastern Pacific.

Location of Venezuela. Graphic: BBC

Location of Venezuela. Graphic: BBC

President Maduro described the US military buildup on 1/9 as the "greatest threat" to Venezuela in 100 years. He declared that his country was ready for "armed struggle to defend national territory" and ordered the mobilization of regular troops and reservists.

"If attacked, Venezuela will immediately enter a period of resistance," Maduro said.

Thanh Danh (CBS, Navy Times)