Russian Bombers Depart Venezuela Following Military Exercises

Russian bombers left Venezuela, one week after arriving in the South American country to conduct military exercises.

The Russian news agency Itar-Tass reports that the two strategic bombers took off from Caracas in the early morning hours Thursday. While in the region, the bombers conducted air patrol flights over neutral waters in the Caribbean.

Itar-Tass says the bombers will patrol neutral waters in the Atlantic and North Arctic Oceans before returning to Russia on Friday.

The Tu-160 bombers arrived in Venezuela September 10, days after Russia announced it would send a naval squadron and anti-submarine aircraft to Venezuela for possible joint military exercises in November.

Russia's military exercises later this year would be its first major maneuvers in the Western Hemisphere since the Cold War.