US fighter jets conduct flight near Venezuela

Two U.S. Navy F/A-18 fighter jets conducted a half-hour flight over waters near the coast of Venezuela, the Associated Press reports.

The flight marks the closest approach by U.S. military aircraft to the airspace of the Latin American country.

The U.S. Department of Defense stated that the short flight was a “planned exercise” intended to demonstrate the aircrafts’ combat capabilities.

However, a source cited by the agency did not specify whether the jets were armed, stating that the operation took place entirely over international waters.