US Southern Command has released footage showing a US Marine Corps F-35B Lightning II being loaded in Puerto Rico, following Venezuela’s claims that American stealth aircraft had flown close to its shores.<br /><br />Earlier this week, Caracas alleged that five F-35Bs had flown near the Venezuelan coast, insisting the country “would not be intimidated” by such military movements.<br /><br />Experts from the portal Área Militar examined the images and identified the fighter’s weapon systems:<br /><br />AIM-120C AMRAAM missiles – medium-range air-to-air weapons (shown with fins removed for ease of transport).<br /><br />GBU-54 LJDAM 500lb bomb – guided by laser and GPS/INS for precision strikes against land targets.<br /><br />AIM-9X Sidewinder missiles – short-range, infrared-guided weapons effective in dogfights.<br /><br />The development comes amid rising diplomatic and military tensions between the United States and Venezuela, which has deepened its ties with Russia, China, and Iran.<br /><br />Washington stated that the presence of the F-35Bs in Puerto Rico was solely for regional training and operational readiness in the Caribbean. Venezuelan officials, however, interpreted the move as intimidation.<br /><br />Source and images: US Southern Command
