Venezuelan authorities have revealed new and shocking details regarding the arrest operation carried out by US forces in Caracas on January 3rd, which targeted Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. Venezuelan Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello confirmed that the operation was not peaceful but involved violent clashes that resulted in injuries to Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. He described the attack as a blatant violation of national sovereignty.
Details of injuries and health condition
Speaking on his weekly program on state television, Cabello explained that First Lady Cilia Flores suffered a direct head injury and sustained severe blows to her body during the raid, while President Nicolás Maduro was injured in the leg. The minister indicated that both are currently recovering despite the seriousness of their injuries, emphasizing that the way the Venezuelan leadership was treated reflected unjustified violence.
Heavy toll of victims
The losses were not limited to presidential casualties. Cabello announced a shocking toll from the military operation, confirming that at least 100 people were killed and a similar number seriously wounded. He indicated that most of the victims fell during the fierce clashes that took place around the presidential palace and other areas of Caracas, describing the American attack as "horrific," leaving widespread destruction and panic among the civilian population.
Background to US-Venezuelan tensions
This dramatic event culminates years of escalating tensions between Washington and Caracas. For years, the United States has imposed crippling economic sanctions on Venezuela, accusing the Maduro administration of corruption and human rights abuses. Notably, the U.S. Department of Justice has previously indicted Maduro on narco-terrorism charges and offered a $15 million reward for information leading to his capture, placing this attack within the context of long-standing U.S. efforts to effect regime change in the oil-rich nation.
Political repercussions and breakdown of relations
For her part, Venezuelan interim president Delcy Rodríguez, who was sworn in following Maduro's resignation, stated that the US attack had created a historic rift in relations between the two countries that could not be easily repaired. Rodríguez said, "What happened represents a dark stain on the history of our relations, the likes of which we have never seen before." Observers believe this event will complicate the geopolitical landscape in Latin America and may push Venezuela toward strengthening its alliances with international powers that are rivals of the United States, potentially ushering in a new phase of regional instability and having repercussions for global energy markets.
