Vladimir Padrino Lopez

A Venezuelan fighter jet crashed on the border with Colombia during an operation to intercept an "illicit aircraft," killing its two pilots, the government said on Friday.

Rolling out tanks, missiles and 100,000 men, Venezuela launched 10 days of military exercises yesterday, amid sky-high tensions over US sanctions slapped on officials accused of an opposition crackdown.

Venezuela shot down a small Mexican-registered airplane in its southwest, the Caracas government said, without providing a reason for taking the action or information about possible casualties.

A Venezuelan fighter jet crashed on the border with Colombia during an operation to intercept an "illicit aircraft," killing its two pilots, the government said on Friday.

Rolling out tanks, missiles and 100,000 men, Venezuela launched 10 days of military exercises yesterday, amid sky-high tensions over US sanctions slapped on officials accused of an opposition crackdown.

Venezuela shot down a small Mexican-registered airplane in its southwest, the Caracas government said, without providing a reason for taking the action or information about possible casualties.