American aircraft B-52 Stratofortress. Credit: AA/ABACA / Abaca Press / Profimedia
Two US military B-52 bombers flew over the Caribbean Sea, parallel to the coast of Venezuela, on Thursday, according to flight tracking data, according to AFP.
The flight came amid Washington's military campaign against drug trafficking in the region, deploying naval and air forces it says are aimed at fighting “narco-terrorism” but have raised fears in Caracas that the goal is actually to oust the Maduro regime.
Data from the website Flightradar24 shows that the bombers flew parallel to the coast of Venezuela, then circled northeast of Caracas, repositioned along the coast and headed north towards the sea.
Since mid-October, it is at least the fourth time that US military aircraft have flown near Venezuela.
The US has also sent the USS Gerald Ford aircraft carrier strike group to Latin America, deployed F-35 warplanes to Puerto Rico and the US Navy currently has six ships in the Caribbean as part of what it describes as efforts to combat drug trafficking.
Since early September, US forces have attacked at least 17 boats it accused of being involved in drug smuggling, including a semi-submersible, killing at least 67 people, according to the US toll.
The build-up of US forces and the campaign of attacks have heightened tensions in the region, with Venezuela accusing Washington of plotting to oust President Nicolas Maduro from power.
