At least 40 people, including military personnel and civilians, were killed in a US attack on Venezuela early Saturday morning, a senior Venezuelan official told The New York Times, describing preliminary reports.
Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump told Fox News on Saturday that no US soldiers had been killed. However, he indicated that some service members were injured.
Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said at a news conference at Mar-a-Lago with Trump later in the day that U.S. helicopters preparing to evacuate President Nicolás Maduro and his wife had come under fire.
He said one helicopter had been hit but “stayed flying” and that all US aircraft had “come home”.
The US is bombing Venezuela
The statement came after the US launched a large-scale “air, land and sea” military attack on Venezuela early Saturday morning involving at least 150 aircraft. Maduro and his wife were captured in Caracas and flown out of the country.
During an exclusive interview with “Fox & Friends Weekend,” Trump revealed that Maduro was captured in a “fortress”-like house where U.S. special forces “rushed him so fast.”
“He was in a house that was more of a fortress than a house. He had a steel door. He had what they call a security area where there’s, you know, solid steel all around. He didn’t get that area locked in. He tried to get in, but he got assed so fast he couldn’t get in,” Trump said.
President Donald Trump has previously said the US “will run” Venezuela after Maduro’s capture until a safe, proper and judicious transition can be made.
Trump said Maduro and his wife “will soon face the full force of American justice and stand trial on American soil” for their alleged role in drug trafficking.
He said they are currently being transferred to New York and authorities will later decide whether the trial will be held in New York or Florida.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised Trump for his leadership and the military operation that led to the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores.
In a post on X, Netanyahu wrote: “Congratulations President @realDonaldTrump on your courageous and historic leadership in the name of freedom and justice. I salute your decisive determination and the brilliant action of your brave soldiers.”
