CARACAS: Venezuela has claimed that at least 40 people, including military personnel and civilians, were killed during a U.S. military operation carried out early Saturday, according to a senior Venezuelan official.
The official said the pre-dawn strikes targeted military bases and defense installations in and around the capital, Caracas, triggering loud explosions and causing widespread power outages across the city.
U.S. forces reportedly conducted a large-scale operation in Caracas that resulted in the arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. The two were transferred to New York, where U.S. authorities say they will face charges related to drug trafficking and weapons offenses.
U.S. President Donald Trump told Fox News that no American troops were killed during the operation, though some sustained injuries. He said special forces used helicopters to raid Maduro’s residence, adding that one helicopter came under fire but remained operational, allowing all U.S. personnel to return safely.
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Cain said during a press briefing that the mission was specifically aimed at capturing Maduro and his wife alive. He added that more than 150 U.S. aircraft were involved in neutralizing Venezuela’s air defense systems during the operation.
Russian media outlets also reported that Venezuela’s defense headquarters sustained damage in the attacks.
