Venezuela condemns that US military plane violated its airspace

CARACAS, July 23 (Reuters) – A US military plane violated Venezuelan airspace in an area bordering Colombia, Venezuela’s armed forces said on Friday, a new incident it called “clear provocation”.

Venezuela, which has on other occasions condemned incursions into its airspace, reported that a US Air Force C-17 type aircraft entered the border from Perija to the western part of the Sierra on Thursday night and stayed for three minutes. . Zulia State.

Venezuela said the incursion took place amid military exercises by the Colombian air force and military in the departments of Antioquia and Cundinamarca, and added that US F-16 and RC135 fighter jets are present for strategic exploration.

The Armed Forces said, “We are aware that, as part of the above exercises, reconnaissance operations are being carried out towards the geographic location of Venezuela, which is why we rule out other potentially hostile actions against our sovereignty and territorial integrity.” don’t.” a statement..

The US State Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The Venezuelan Armed Forces reported that so far in 2021, some 21 US aircraft have entered a flight information area in Maiketia, where the country’s largest airport operates, and which serves Caracas.

(Reporting by Daisy Buitrago. Editing by Rodrigo Charme)