By Ayomide Otitoju
Venezuela on Saturday accused the United States of striking residential areas in a wave of early-morning attacks and announced a major mobilization of its military forces.
Venezuelan Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino Lopez said in a video statement shared on social media that “invading US forces” had desecrated the country’s soil, targeting civilian-populated areas with missiles and rockets launched from combat helicopters. He added that Venezuela would respond with a “massive deployment of all land, air, naval, riverine and missile capabilities… for comprehensive defense.”
In a separate statement, former US President Donald Trump claimed that US forces had captured Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro following a “large-scale strike” on the country. “The United States of America has successfully carried out a large scale strike against Venezuela and its leader, President Nicolás Maduro, who has been, along with his wife, captured and flown out of the country,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
He added that the operation had been conducted in coordination with US law enforcement and announced plans to hold a news conference at 11:00 am (1600 GMT) at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida, where he is concluding a two-week holiday break.
The claims from both sides have escalated tensions in the region, though independent verification of the reports was not immediately available.
