At least 40 people, including civilians and soldiers, were killed during a US military operation aimed at capturing Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, according to a report by The New York Times.
Citing a senior Venezuelan official who requested anonymity, the report stated that the assault claimed dozens of lives as American forces launched a large-scale offensive. US officials told the newspaper that before deploying ground troops, the US military carried out a massive air campaign to disable Venezuela’s air defense systems. More than 150 aircraft were reportedly involved in the strikes, paving the way for helicopters to land troops near Maduro’s location.
Neither the White House nor the Pentagon has issued an immediate official statement regarding the scale of the operation or the reported casualties.
The dramatic raid took place early Saturday morning, when US forces detained Maduro and his wife and transported them to the United States. President Donald Trump later announced that Washington would oversee Venezuela until a “safe, proper, and prudent interim arrangement” is established.
In New York, prosecutors filed new charges against the Maduro couple, accusing them of trafficking “tons of cocaine” into the United States along with several other crimes.
The operation has already sparked international criticism. Russia condemned the US military action, while analysts warned that bypassing Congress and violating international law could trigger long-term instability in Venezuela and across the wider region.
+ There are no comments
Add yours