Limited Aerial Resistance Amid Surprise Attack
The Venezuelan air force was largely ineffective during the recent US raid, with limited aerial resistance and no reported engagements. Experts attribute this to a combination of surprise, limited capabilities, and a hollowed-out force due to years of economic crisis and sanctions. The air force’s fleet includes F-16s, Sukhois, and K-8s, but the number of airworthy aircraft is unclear. The US operation, which included non-kinetic effects and airstrikes, may have caught the Venezuelan military off guard, according to Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine. This was first reported by Breaking Defense.