At least 24 Venezuelan security personnel died in the U.S. military operation to capture autocratic leader Nicolas Maduro, the country’s military reported Tuesday, as President Donald Trump told Republican lawmakers that “many, many” Cubans were also killed.
Maduro was captured, along with his wife Cilia Flores, on January 3 after strikes in the capital Caracas and was indicted on “narco-terrorism” charges in New York Monday. Maduro pleaded not guilty claiming he was “kidnapped” and that he is a “prisoner of war.”
At the House Republican retreat Tuesday, Trump described the Delta Force operation that resulted in Maduro’s capture as tactically “brilliant” but also noted the fatalities.
“Unfortunately, I say that, soldiers, Cubans, mostly Cubans, but many, many killed. … They knew we were coming, and they were protected, and our guys weren’t,” Trump said. Trump characterized Maduro as “a violent guy” who “killed millions of people.”
Trump also warned Monday that the U.S. could launch a second attack on Venezuela if newly sworn-in President Delcy Rodríguez fails to cooperate with American officials. “We’re prepared to do it,” Trump told NBC News.
The president said the U.S. will remain involved in Venezuela for “a period of time” and ruled out snap elections in the next 30 days. “We have to fix the country first,” Trump said, adding the “U.S. is not at war with Venezuela.”
Most Americans have concerns about Venezuela operation, poll finds
Most Americans are concerned about the U.S. military’s recent operation in Venezuela, which included airstrikes and led to the capture of deposed leader Nicolas Maduro, according to new polling.
In a Reuters/Ipsos survey released on Monday, 72 percent of respondents said they worry the U.S. will become too involved in Venezuela. Meanwhile, one-third of respondents said they approved of the military operation.
Sixty-five percent of Republicans said they backed the operation, while just 11 percent of Democrats and 23 percent of independents said the same.
The poll sampled 1,248 U.S. adults between January 4 and 5. It has a margin of error of three percentage points.
Florida Republican asks whether Trump should attack Cuba next
Rep. Carlos Gimenez, a Florida Republican, questioned whether President Donald Trump should attack Cuba following the U.S. military’s raid on Venezuela.
“Should President Trump do #Cuba next?” the Cuban-born lawmaker wrote in a post on X on Monday, which included a poll with two options: “Yes, right now!” and “Yes, by end of 2026!”
President of Mexico calls for Maduro to be given a fair trial
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum called for a “fair trial” for Nicolas Maduro, the deposed leader of Venezuela.
“Now that President Maduro has been detained, what one asks for is always a fair trial,” Sheinbaum said during a press conference on Tuesday. “That is what must be requested, so that truly in everything, for everyone and in any circumstance – and in this particular case – there must be speed and justice.”
She also said she opposed the U.S. military’s “invasion” of Venezuela.
“The best way to help a country is international cooperation for development. Respect, protection, and promotion of human rights,” she said.
Maduro and his wife were captured from Caracas by U.S. forces on January 3 and transported to New York.
The deposed leader is currently being held at a detention center in New York City, where he will stand trial on drug charges. He has pleaded not guilty and described himself as a “prisoner of war.”
At least 24 Venezuelan personnel were killed in US military operation, Venezuelan military says
The Venezuelan military said on Tuesday that at least two dozen Venezuelan security personnel died during the U.S. military’s January 3 operation in Caracas, which led to the capture of Nicolas Maduro, according to the Associated Press.
Earlier on Tuesday, President Donald Trump claimed that “many, many” Cubans were killed during the operation, which he described as tactically brilliant.
Venezuelan official calls on judge overseeing Maduro case to uphold international law
Venezuela’s Attorney General Tarek William Saab called on the New York City judge overseeing Nicolas Maduro’s case to adhere to international law.
“I call on Judge Alvin Gerstein to respect international law and recognize the lack of jurisdiction of the court at his disposal to prosecute the head of a sovereign nation such as Venezuela, who is protected by diplomatic immunity,” Saab said on Tuesday, according to NBC News.
Maduro pleaded not guilty to drug charges in court on Monday, claiming he was “kidnapped” and that he is a “prisoner of war.”
Senate majority leader says he’s confident the US government has a plan for the future of Venezuela
Senate Majority Leader John Thune expressed confidence that the U.S. government has a plan for the future of Venezuela.
Speaking to reporters after a congressional briefing on Monday night, the South Dakota Republican said, “The next few days are going to be key in what happens there in terms of, you know, sort of the government structure and, you know, how willing they are to work with the U.S.”
“I think that’s going to be really key here,” he said, according to CBS News.
“If it ends up being, you know, Rodriguez, I’m told that she’s a practical person, pragmatic person, and will understand the importance of figuring out a path forward to where America’s national security priorities can be prioritized by Venezuela and they can work with us in a constructive way,” he said. “I hope that happens.”
Trump criticizes Democrats for failing to back Venezuela operation
President Trump criticized Democratic lawmakers for failing to back his military strike in Venezuela and the capture of Nicolas Maduro.
Speaking to a gathering of House Republicans on Tuesday, Trump singled out Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and fellow Democrats.
“At some point they should say you know ‘you did a great job,’” the president said. “‘Thank you, congratulations.’ Wouldn’t it be good?”
Trump administration to brief senators this week on Venezuela attack
Senior members of President Donald Trump’s administration are scheduled to brief senators about the U.S. military’s January 3 raid on Venezuela, which led to the capture of deposed leader Nicolas Maduro, according to a new report.
The briefing will take place at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, according to The New York Times.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Attorney General Pam Bondi and CIA Director John Ratcliffe will participate in the briefing.
Trump says ‘nobody can take us’ after Venezuela raid
Speaking to the House GOP retreat at the Kennedy Center on Tuesday, President Donald Trump boasted about the U.S. military following the January 3 seizure of deposed Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro.
“The United States proved once again that we have the most powerful, most lethal, most sophisticated and most fearsome, it’s a fearsome military, on planet Earth, and it’s not even close,” the Republican president said. “Nobody can take us.”
PHOTOS: See Trump address Republican lawmakers
President Donald Trump addressed Republican lawmakers on Tuesday, speaking about a wide range of issues, including the U.S. military’s capture of deposed Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro, his sweeping tariffs and the upcoming midterm elections.
Source: independent.co.uk