Venezuela's Defense Minister, General Vladimir Padrino, confirmed on Sunday 4 January that a large part of Nicolás Maduro's close guard was killed during the American military operation that led to his capture.
According to Vladimir Padrino, the American raid, conducted during the night from Saturday to Sunday, directly targeted Maduro's close protection device. No precise figures have been provided, but the Venezuelan authorities report significant losses among the agents responsible for his personal security.
During his televised intervention, the Minister denounced an operation carried out « Cold blood » and announced the activation of the armed forces throughout the territory. He also reaffirmed the support of the military institution for Vice-President Delcy Rodríguez, who had been proclaimed interim president.
At this stage, the exact record of the Nicolás Maduro security personnel killed during the operation remains unknown, while the situation in Venezuela remains tense, in the context of military deployment and strong tensions with the United States.
R.J. with Reuters
