What to know about the U.S. military strikes on Venezuela
- President Trump said Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife were "captured and flown out of the Country" early Saturday morning, confirming a "large scale strike" by the U.S. that drew quick condemnation and concern from across the globe.
- The U.S. Army's Delta Force, an elite special forces unit, carried out the operation to capture Maduro, officials told CBS News.
- A Republican senator said Secretary of State Marco Rubio had indicated that Maduro would face criminal charges in the U.S., where he was indicted years ago, and that Rubio "anticipates no further action in Venezuela." The Trump administration has long accused Maduro of drug trafficking and working with gangs designated as terrorist organizations, which Maduro denies.
- The strikes follow months of U.S. military buildup in the region, with the USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier and numerous other warships positioned in the Caribbean.
- In recent weeks the U.S. has seized two oil tankers off Venezuela, launched deadly strikes on more than 30 boats the administration says were carrying drugs, and struck what President Trump called "the dock area where they load the boats up with drugs."
Joy, tears and chants of "freedom" by Venezuelans in South Florida
Venezuelans in South Florida poured into the streets of Doral early Saturday, celebrating the U.S. military action in Venezuela that led to the arrest of President Nicolas Maduro.
Celebrations erupted outside El Arepazo restaurant, a longtime gathering spot for the Venezuelan community, where people hugged, sang and waved flags as the sun came up.
Chants of "Libertad" echoed through the area as crowds sang both the U.S. and Venezuelan national anthems, marking a moment many said they had waited decades to see.
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Vice President JD Vance said that Mr. Trump offered Maduro "multiple off ramps" before the operation in Venezuela.
"Maduro is the newest person to find out that President Trump means what he says," Vance wrote on social media. "Kudos to our brave special operators who pulled off a truly impressive operation."
Vance also said that he did not believe the operation was illegal.
"Maduro has multiple indictments in the United States for narcoterrorism," Vance wrote. Maduro was indicted by federal prosecutors in 2020. "You don't get to avoid justice for drug trafficking in the United States because you live in a palace in Caracas."
A spokesperson for Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado declined to comment to the Associated Press on the U.S. military operation that led to the arrest of President Nicolas Maduro.
Machado, who has been in hiding since the 2024 presidential elections, was last seen in public last month when she traveled to Norway to receive the Nobel Peace Prize.
Machado told CBS News in mid-December that she was "absolutely" supportive of President Trump's strategy in the country and would welcome "more and more pressure so that Maduro understands that he has to go."
Bondi says Maduro and wife will "soon face the full wrath of American justice" on U.S. soil
U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi said in a social media post on Saturday that captured Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and his wife would "soon face the full wrath of American justice on American soil in American courts."
Maduro has been indicted in a U.S. federal court on at least four charges, including narco-terrorism offenses and possessing weapons "against the United States," Bondi said.
It was not immediately clear whether the nation's top lawyer was referring only to charges contained in an indictment filed against the Venezuelan leader in 2020, or if there would be new or different charges filed in an indictment Saturday.
European Union calls for restraint, respect for international law
Top European Union diplomat Kaja Kallas said Saturday that she had spoken with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and the EU's ambassador in Caracas.
She said the EU was "closely monitoring the situation" and noted that it had "repeatedly stated that Mr. Maduro lacks legitimacy."
"Under all circumstances, the principles of international law and the UN Charter must be respected," Kallas wrote on social media. "We call for restraint. The safety of EU citizens in the country is our top priority."
Russia and Iran condemn U.S. strikes on Venezuela
Russia and Iran were among the many nations to react quickly to the U.S. military strikes on Venezuela and President Trump announcing the capture of the Latin American nation's leader, Nicolás Maduro.
Iran condemned the attack, calling it a "flagrant violation of the national sovereignty and territorial integrity of" Venezuela, according to the AFP news agency.
Russia's foreign ministry accused the U.S. of "an act of armed aggression against Venezuela. This is deeply concerning and condemnable" in a statement, according to the Reuters news agency.
"The pretexts used to justify such actions are unfounded," the statement said, adding a call for the prevention of "further escalation," dialogue, and backing other calls for an emergency meeting of the U.N. Security Council.
2 comments:
Does this leave the door open for any country to declare someone a criminal and then attack and kidnap/ arrest the person. because Gates, Fauchie and knitting a jumper would all be legal targets.
Please take Gates.
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