21.07.19: Aggressive Shadow

The United States Southern Command (USSOUTHCOM) released videos and pictures today of what it claims was aggressive maneuvering from a Venezuelan fighter jet in close proximity to a US aircraft conducting operations in the Caribbean.

The images came via de the USSOUTHCOM Twitter account in a pair of messages, one of which linked the behaviour of the Venezuelan SU-30 jet to Russia’s support for the Maduro regime.

According to the tweets, the Venezuelan jet was following a Lockheed EP-3, which is an aircraft with electronic monitoring and reconnaissance capabilities. USSOUTHCOM claims that its aircraft was conducting a legitimate operation over international waters.

Below, the two tweets:

1 of 2 JUST RELEASED #Venezuela SU-30 Flanker “aggressively shadowed” a U.S. EP-3 aircraft at an unsafe distance July 19, jeopardizing the crew & aircraft. The EP-3 was performing a multi-nationally recognized & approved mission in international airspace over #CaribbeanSea. pic.twitter.com/edjmPqXbmP

— U.S. Southern Command (@Southcom) July 21, 2019

2 of 2: This action demonstrates #Russia’s irresponsible military support to Maduro's illegitimate regime & underscores Maduro’s recklessness & irresponsible behavior, which undermines int’l rule of law & efforts to counter illicit trafficking. Pics & vids https://t.co/848FdmAeaE pic.twitter.com/1W9syCd1xs

— U.S. Southern Command (@Southcom) July 21, 2019

The Su-30 is a Russian fighter jet. The Venezuelan air force has at least two dozen of the aircraft.

Venezuelan Military Cries Foul Over EP-3 Flight

Admiral Remigio Ceballos, the head of the military’s Strategic Operations Command branch, had tweeted about the operation to intercept the US airplane yesterday.

Below, Ceballos’ tweet:

🛑ALERTA| #CEOFANB Sistema de Defensa Aeroespacial del CODAI detectó e interceptó aeronave EE.UU. EP-3E de inteligencia y exploración radio electrónica en nuestra región de información de vuelo Maiquetia, violando Tratados Aéreos Internacionales en franca provocación a la RBV. pic.twitter.com/vywRdoQnUL

— A/J REMIGIO CEBALLOS (@CeballosIchaso) July 20, 2019

#ALERT #[Strategic Operations Command] The aeroespacial defense system detected and intercepted a US EP-3E intelligence and electronic reconnaissance airplane in our Maiquetia flight information region, violating International Arial Treaties [sic] in earnest provokation of the [Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela].

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