Six stealth fighters F-35B landed in Puerto Rico to join an expanded US operation against drug trafficking, also targeting Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro.
The jets join one of the largest recent US military mobilizations in the Caribbean, which includes 4,500 Marines and sailors, at least eight ships — among them a fast-attack nuclear submarine — and various additional military assets.
+ Russia creates detachment with Soviet Yak-52 training aircraft to intercept Ukrainian drones
The F-35s departed from the Marine Corps Air Station Yuma and made refueling stops at US bases. So far, the jets show no visible unit markings, which may indicate security measures.
This operation has already involved the use of lethal force, with 11 smugglers killed in an attack on a boat linked to the Tren de Aragua cartel.
In addition to their strike capabilities, the F-35s are equipped with advanced intelligence systems, including radar, electro-optical sensors, and electronic information gathering. The B variant, which operates from amphibious assault ships such as the USS Iwo Jima, allows launch and recovery directly from the sea, offering commanders greater flexibility in executing missions.
Source: The War Zone | Photo: X @sentdefender | This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team
Part 2: pic.twitter.com/Q1q3tfo5yN
— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) September 14, 2025
