US attacks Venezuelan capital, captures Maduro
An unknown number of civilian casualties as explosions rock Caracas
The United States claims to have conducted an operation that captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, according to statements made by US President Donald Trump on his Truth Social media platform.
The early morning statement followed reports of numerous explosions in Caracas in at least 7 distinct neighborhoods, at least two of which struck airstrips or airports utilized by the military.
“I was awoken by explosions,” one Caracas resident who spoke to PWS by phone said, at 2 a.m Venezuelan time, “and then a series of less loud explosions. They are ongoing. And there are jets, as well as helicopters. There is a blackout here [in my neighborhood], but I still hear what sounds like gunfire.”
Videos sent to PWS by contacts in Caracas showed large explosions spread across the city, which has a population of more than 5 million people. Social media was flooded with similar images.
PWS could not independently verify the majority of the footage, but it was clearly of Caracas, featuring people with Venezuelan accents.
Apartment complexes in the town of Fuerte Tiuna were also evacuated after explosions near residential buildings. Strikes reportedly also struck Higuerote and Aragua state.
Trump claimed that the Venezuelan President was captured during a “large-scale strike” in the South American country. In statements immediately after the Trump announcement, Venezuelan Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino denounced the US attack, which he said included bombings of civilian areas and caused an unknown number of casualties.
He further promised that Venezuela would strongly resist any presence of foreign troops on Venezuelan land.
Vice President Delcy Rodriguez vowed to “maintain the independence of Venezuela,” denouncing “military aggression against a sovereign country.”
She further demanded that the US provide “proof of life” of the captured Venezuelan President.
“I have mixed feelings,” another Caracas resident, who asked not to be named, told PWS. “The truth is, I’m still in shock. I don’t know what to think. I’m just glad my family has enough food to hold out for a week or so. We don’t know what’s coming next.”
Details of the US attack are anything but clear, including how Maduro was allegedly captured. But videos on social media appeared to show US helicopters landing in the Venezuelan capital as well as attacking anti-aircraft batteries.
Further obscured by the fog of war is what comes next in Venezuela. And although state media presented a united front, many analysts pointed out that capturing Maduro could very well have depended on internal sources in order to succeed.
It is also unclear who exactly assumes leadership in Venezuela. Although in theory, the line of succession is clear, power could eventually fall to either Diosdado Cabello or to Rodriguez.
In previous weeks, Donald Trump authorized CIA actions within Venezuela, and claimed to have carried out at least one land strike, though unlike the attacks of last night, on an empty dock near the Venezuelan coast.
In Colombia, President Gustavo Petro denounced the attacks on Venezuela. It is the first time the country has ever been attacked by a foreign power. He called for an emergency meeting of the Organization of American States (OAS), as well as within the UN Security Council, which Colombia recently joined.
He announced an increase in border security as well as plans to accept refugees from Venezuela.
At a press conference from Mara Lago, Trump said that the US “is going to run the country until such time as we can undertake a safe, proper, and judicious transition.”
It is unclear exactly what he meant, but continued by saying “we’re not going to let someone else take over,” and the US will enforce that under threats of additional attacks.
He also said “very large US oil, companies, the biggest in the world, will go in, build the infrastructure, and make billions of dollars.”
“They took all of our property…we built it,” he continued. “This constituted one of the largest thefts of US property in the history of our country.”
He also repeated false claims about Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua being part of an “invasion” sent by the government of Maduro.
At the same press conference, US General John Dan “Razing” Caine, however, stated that Maduro has “ceded power to Vice President Delcy Rodriguez.”
Responding to questions about a possible transition of power, he replied that Rodriguez “has been sworn in. She is Maduro’s replacement. But of Venezuela, “we’re gonna run it properly...she was sworn in…We’re not afraid of boots on the ground.” “We’re gonna run it properly. We’re gonna make sure the Venezuelan people are taken care of…We’re not afraid of boots on the ground.”
In questions from the press about opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, who has vocally supported the idea of a US intervention and repeated false claims made by the US president, Trump said “It would be very tough for her to be the leader (of Venezuela) as she doesn’t have the respect within the country. She’s a very nice woman, but she doesn’t have the respect.”
Trump also said that Colombian President Gustavo Petro, who the US has threatened before, “has been making cocaine” and should “watch his ass.” He has previously stated that after Maduro, Petro “will be next.”
Rodriguez appeared in a video shortly afterwards with Diosdado, high-ranking military officials and other civil leaders, and directly contradicted some claims by Trump, promising “fierce resistance” to “the illegal and aggressive actions of the United States.” She denied that she was an “interim president” and proclaimed Maduro the “only true President of Venezuela.”
The video debunks false rumors that she was no longer in Venezuela, and is clearly an attempt to display unity among high-ranking Chavista officials.
PWS will be updating this story throughout the day.
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