Washington DC [US], January 3 (HBTV): United States President Donald Trump on Saturday claimed that the US had carried out a large-scale strike against Venezuela, during which Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife were captured and taken out of the country.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump said the operation was conducted jointly with US law enforcement agencies and that further details would be shared at a news conference scheduled for 11 am at Mar-a-Lago.
‘The United States of America has successfully carried out a large-scale strike against Venezuela and its leader, President Nicolas Maduro, who has been, along with his wife, captured and flown out of the country. This operation was done in conjunction with U.S. law enforcement. Details to follow,’ Trump said in the post.
The development comes amid heightened tensions between the United States and Venezuela. Trump has repeatedly accused the Maduro government of running what he has described as a ‘narco-terrorist’ administration and has called on the Venezuelan leader to step down.
The United States has also imposed sanctions on vessels it claims are involved in transporting Venezuelan oil, while US military actions against Venezuelan boats in the region have increased amid allegations of drug and narcotics smuggling. Trump has accused Venezuela of carrying out ‘terrible things’ against the United States.
Meanwhile, the Venezuelan government issued a statement on Saturday rejecting and condemning what it described as a ‘military aggression’ by the United States against Venezuelan territory, accusing Washington of violating the United Nations Charter and threatening regional peace and stability.
In the statement, the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela alleged that US forces carried out attacks on civilian and military locations in Caracas and in the states of Miranda, Aragua and La Guaira. It termed the action a violation of international law, including Articles 1 and 2 of the UN Charter, which uphold state sovereignty and prohibit the use of force.
The Venezuelan government said the alleged aggression was aimed at seizing the country’s strategic resources, particularly oil and minerals, and undermining its political independence. It rejected what it described as attempts at ‘regime change’, stating that Venezuela had defended its sovereignty for more than two centuries.
Invoking the legacy of Simon Bolivar, the statement said the Venezuelan people would once again defend their independence. It urged social and political forces to mobilise against what it called an ‘imperialist attack’.
The statement said the Bolivarian National Armed Forces had been deployed nationwide to ensure sovereignty and peace, and that diplomatic channels would be activated to raise complaints before the UN Security Council, the UN Secretary-General, CELAC and the Non-Aligned Movement. It added that President Nicolas Maduro had ordered the implementation of national defence plans and signed a decree declaring a State of External Commotion across the country.
According to the statement, comprehensive national defence command structures have been deployed across states and municipalities. Citing Article 51 of the UN Charter, the government said it reserves the right to exercise legitimate self-defence to protect its people, territory and independence, and called on governments and people worldwide to express solidarity.
The statement was issued amid reports of loud explosions in Caracas early Saturday, triggering power outages in several neighbourhoods, CNN reported.
Reacting to the developments, Colombian President Gustavo Petro called for an urgent meeting of the United Nations Security Council to discuss US action against Venezuela. ‘Colombia is a member of the United Nations Security Council which must be convened immediately. Establish the international legality of the aggression against Venezuela,’ Petro said in a post on X. (ANI)