In an address to Republican lawmakers, US President Donald Trump hailed a recent military operation that culminated in the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, describing the mission as a highly complex and brilliant tactical achievement.
Trump characterised the raid, which involved coordinated strikes and special forces action in Caracas, as an amazing military feat that demonstrated American military superiority. He emphasised that US forces faced intense resistance and heavy fire but reported no fatalities.
The President said planners coordinated extensively, deploying air support and ground troops, and caught Venezuelan forces off guard by cutting electricity in major parts of the capital during the operation.
After the overnight assault, US forces took Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, into custody and flew them to New York, where they now face longstanding narcotics and weapons charges.
Washington labelled Maduro’s regime a source of drug trafficking and narco-terrorism, framing the mission as part of a broader effort to curb organised crime impacting the United States.
Despite Trump’s praise, the operation has sparked widespread controversy.
Official reports that the operation killed at least 24 Venezuelan security personnel and dozens of Cuban allies, with civilians also among the casualties, prompting accusations of disproportionate force.
International responses have been sharply divided. Several Latin American governments decried the action as a violation of Venezuelan sovereignty and international law, while others cast it as a necessary step against dictatorship and organised crime.
Legal Battle and Maduro’s Response
Maduro pleaded not guilty in a US court and claimed that US forces kidnapped him, a charge Washington rejected but one that underscored the legal complexities surrounding the operation.
Meanwhile, Venezuela’s interim leadership under Vice-President Delcy Rodríguez has rejected claims of US control and declared periods of national mourning for the dead.
Trump’s remarks underscored his administration’s view that the raid will serve as both a strategic blow to narco-terrorism and a demonstration of American resolve in the Western Hemisphere, even as global debate intensifies over its implications.
Also Read: President Trump Says Venezuela To Supply Up To 50 Million Barrels Of Sanctioned Oil To US
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