At least 40 people, including civilians and soldiers, have been killed in a US military operation to capture Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, according to a report in the New York Times.
The report, citing a senior Venezuelan official who declined to be named, said that the attack killed soldiers and civilians. The New York Times, citing US officials, said that a major air campaign was launched to disable Venezuelan air defenses before the ground forces were deployed. More than 150 US aircraft were deployed to allow military helicopters to drop troops on Maduro’s positions.
However, there was no immediate official comment from the White House or the Pentagon on the number of deaths or the scope of the operation.
Earlier on Saturday, US forces captured Maduro and his wife in a dramatic raid and took them to the United States. President Donald Trump announced that the United States would run Venezuela until a “safe and appropriate transition system” was in place.
Meanwhile, a new indictment filed in a New York court has brought various charges against the Maduro couple, including trafficking a large amount of cocaine to the United States.
The operation has also drawn international criticism. Analysts say the move violates international law and bypasses the US Congress, risking long-term instability in Venezuela and the region.