Blitz Bureau
NEW DELHI: US President Donald Trump has claimed that Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, along with his wife, has been captured and flown out of the country, which came under large-scale attack early on January 3. Taking to his social media platform Truth Social, Trump said, “The United States of America has successfully carried out a large-scale strike against Venezuela and its leader, President Nicolas Maduro, who has been, along with his wife, captured and flown out of the Country.”
He mentioned that this operation was done in conjunction with US Law Enforcement, and further details will follow during a news conference at Mar-a-Lago, Florida. Several large explosions were heard early Saturday in Caracas, the capital of Venezuela. Venezuela, in its first official statement since loud explosions were heard in the capital Caracas, strongly criticised the Donald Trump-led government of the United States, accusing it of carrying out what it described as “extremely serious military aggression”.
Soon after, US media reported that Washington officials had confirmed strikes against Venezuela. Meanwhile, the US Embassy in Bogota, Colombia, which also manages affairs in Venezuela, released a statement advising Americans against travelling to Venezuela or its borders.
“US Embassy Bogota is aware of reports of explosions in and around Caracas, Venezuela. The US Embassy in Bogota, Colombia, warns US citizens not to travel to Venezuela. US citizens in Venezuela should shelter in place,” the Embassy said in a statement. The highest Travel Advisory level — Level 4 — has been announced. Level 4 states, “Do Not Travel – due to severe risks to Americans, including wrongful detention, torture in detention, terrorism, kidnapping, arbitrary enforcement of local laws, crime, civil unrest, and poor health infrastructure.” All US citizens in Venezuela have been strongly advised to depart immediately.
