The Venezuelan Minister of Defense, General Vladimir Padrino López, condemned on Saturday (3/1) the American bombings against targets in different regions of the country and announced the activation of all military capabilities to defend the national territory.
During the offensive, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro was captured by American forces.
In a statement, Padrino López called the action a “criminal military aggression” and said the Bolivarian National Armed Forces (FANB) were mobilizing all available resources in response to the offensive.
According to him, the attacks affected military installations and urban areas, including the Fort Tiuna complex in Caracas, as well as localities in the states of Miranda, Aragua and La Guaira.
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Still according to the minister, missiles and rockets were fired from North American combat helicopters in the early morning. He said reports of deaths and injuries were still under investigation, but noted there were reports of civilian casualties in residential areas.
“This invasion represents the greatest affront the country has ever suffered,” López said.
The minister also said that a state of external unrest had been declared throughout Venezuelan territory, based on the Constitution and national security laws.
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Readiness
With this measure, the FANB entered a state of operational readiness, with the mobilization of land, air, naval, river and missile assets.
According to the government, the response involves coordination between military forces, police and popular organizations, described as a “popular-military-police fusion” to guarantee the country’s overall defense.
Padrino López rejected the presence of foreign troops and said the offensive was not linked to the fight against drug trafficking, as Washington claims, but rather to strategic interests and the attempt to promote regime change.
He also called on the international community and multilateral organizations to condemn what he considers a violation of the United Nations Charter and international law.
Where is Maduro?
The Venezuelan government declared a state of national emergency and said it did not know the whereabouts of the Chavista leader.
Vice President Delcy Rodríguez demanded “immediate proof of life” from the president and first lady and accused the United States of being responsible for civilian and military deaths in the attacks.
The crisis exacerbates tensions between Washington and Caracas, which had intensified in recent months against a backdrop of sanctions, accusations of drug trafficking and a growing American military presence in the Caribbean and Latin America.
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