In a shocking and unprecedented turn of events, the United States of America on Friday carried out large scale air strikes on Venezuela and captured its President Nicolas Maduro. U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed in a statement that his country has carried out strikes in several parts of Venezuela, including Caracas, and had captured and flown out President Maduro out of the country along with his wife.
The US President issued the statement on Truth Social and said: “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. There will be a News Conference today at 11 A.M., at Mar-a-Lago. Thank you for your attention to this matter! President DONALD J. TRUMP.”
The situation is completely unprecedented as there is no parallel in recent history about kidnapping a sitting President of a sovereign country and flying him out of the nation.
The US military action comes amidst growing tensions in the region. US officials had earlier confirmed to American media that President Trump authorised air strikes inside Venezuela, including on military facilities.
The Venezuelan government of President Maduro denounced the US strikes, calling them “extremely serious military aggression”. It said the US carried out attacks on the capital Caracas and the states of Miranda, Aragua and La Guaira.
Reports said the residents of Caracas were woken up around 2 am by the noise of loud explosions and low-flying aircraft. The Associated Press reported that people in several localities rushed into the streets following the explosions around 2 am.
A few explosions took place near or around Fortuna, the main military base in Caracas. The explosions caused a blackout in the area.
The development came amid the ongoing American military campaign to target alleged drug-smuggling boats in the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean.
Venezuela had yesterday stated that it was willing to discuss with the US government a deal to combat drug trafficking. President Maduro had on Thursday alleged that the Trump administration wanted to overthrow his government in the name of an anti-drug trafficking campaign and gain access to the country’s huge oil reserves.
In recent months, President Donald Trump had been exerting pressure on the Venezuelan government by first ordering a massive military deployment in the Caribbean Sea, and then targeting ships and boats in anti-drug raids. His administration had accused Maduro of drug trafficking and working with gangs designated as terrorist organisations. Trump had also warned of land operations in the South American country while increasing pressure on Maduro to leave office.
In recent weeks, the American military seized control of two oil tankers off Venezuela, while launching deadly strikes on over 30 boats alleged to be carrying drugs.
