Venezuela’s defence minister, Vladimir López, has accused the United States of carrying out what he described as “criminal military aggression” against the country following explosions that rocked Caracas in the early hours of Saturday. Parts of the Venezuelan capital were reportedly cut off from the electricity grid after the blasts.
Hours later, US President Donald Trump announced on social media that his country had successfully captured Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro and his wife. Speaking in a video shared online, López said Venezuelan airspace was attacked in the wee hours, describing it as “the most criminal military aggression by the US government in North America,” adding that missiles and rockets fired from combat helicopters struck urban areas in Caracas as well as parts of Miranda, Aragua and La Guaira states.
The defence minister said authorities were still compiling information on civilians killed or injured during the attacks, describing the incident as “the greatest outrage the country has ever suffered.” López accused the United States of violating the United Nations charter and international law, calling on the international community and multilateral organisations to condemn the action.
He said the attack was aimed at imposing regime change and seizing Venezuela’s strategic resources, insisting, “They have attacked us but they will not vanquish us,” and adding, “We will form an indestructible wall of resistance; our vocation is peace, but our heritage is the fight for freedom.” He urged Venezuelans and members of the armed forces to unite in defence of the country’s sovereignty and right to self-determination.