The U.S. is sending 10 F-35 fighter jets to the Caribbean for operations targeting drug cartels, a source familiar with the plans confirmed Friday.

Tensions with Venezuela have been rising over the drug trade and the deadly U.S. strike earlier this week on a boat carrying alleged drug traffickers and narcotics.

Reuters first reported the deployment of the F-35 fighter jets.

In late August, the U.S. assigned three Aegis guided-missile destroyers — the USS Gravely, the USS Jason Dunham and the USS Sampson — to deploy to the waters off Venezuela as part of President Trump's effort to combat threats from Latin American drug cartels.

On Thursday, two armed Venezuelan F-16 fighter jets flew over the Dunham, according to multiple Defense Department officials who described

See Full Page