'Excellent operation'; Trump praises US military operation to capture Venezuelan President Maduro

WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump on Saturday praised the operation carried out by the US military to capture Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife. In a telephone interview with The New York Times, Trump described the mission as “excellent” and said it was carried out by highly skilled soldiers.

The media asked whether Congress's approval was taken for the operation and what the future of Venezuela would be. Trump replied that these matters would be explained at a press conference at Mar-a-Lago in Florida.

Even before Trump announced that Maduro and his wife had been captured and deported, the US military had carried out a large troop deployment in the Caribbean region. The US Embassy in Bogotá, Colombia, has issued a security alert to American citizens in Venezuela. The US Embassy in Caracas has remained closed since 2019.

Venezuela’s Vice President Delcy Rodriguez said in a speech on state-controlled television that the current whereabouts of Maduro and his wife are unknown. She demanded that Trump provide proof that Maduro is alive.

Venezuelan Defence Minister Vladimir Padrino López said the country would resist US aggression. He stated that details of those killed and injured in the US attacks are being collected. The US launched heavy attacks on the Latin American nation early this morning. Reports say there were seven explosions, including in the capital Caracas. Both military and civilian centres were targeted. The US claimed the attacks were carried out because Venezuela was providing protection to drug cartels.