Venezuela will resist the presence of foreign troops, Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino Lopez said in a video on Saturday, as US President Donald Trump said Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro was captured and was being removed from the country.
In a sharp retort, he said, "The free, independent and sovereign Venezuela, rejects with all its strength with its liberation history, the presence of these foreign troops that have left death, pain and destruction in their path."
He called the US attack a cowardly act and affirmed that Venezuela will not give in to American pressure.
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"This invasion represents the biggest insult the country has ever faced," Padrino said in the video.
Vowing resistance after US strikes, Padrino said, "Will release all our capabilities for the integral defence of the nation. To reestablish order, and peace we will activate throughout all the geographical national space along with perfect popular military fusion, we have placed in operational military police through deployment of all the terrestrial, aerial, naval, river and missile armed systems for defence."
Trump's post after strike
Trump posted on Truth Social that Maduro and his wife were 'captured and flown out of the Country," as he publicly acknowledged that the United States had carried out military strikes in Venezuela.
"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. This operation was done in conjunction with U.S. Law Enforcement," Trump wrote.
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Russia and Iran condemn attack by the US
Meanwhile, Russia on Saturday issued a strong statement where it called the US' attack on Venezuela "deeply concerning and condemnable".
The Russian Foreign Ministry said, "This morning, the United States committed an act of armed aggression against Venezuela. The pretexts used to justify such actions are untenable. Ideological hostility has triumphed over businesslike pragmatism."
Russia stated that the US military strikes have "no substantive basis" and are "clearly in violation of international law". The Russian Foreign Ministry stated that to prevent further deterioration of the situation, it was urgent that solutions be discussed through dialogue.
"All partners with mutual grievances must find a way to resolve issues through dialogue, and we are ready to support this," the Ministry added.
Venezuela is Russia's most important ally in South America.
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The Russian Foreign Ministry demanded that an urgent UN Security Council meeting be called to discuss the situation at the earliest.
Iran also condemned the attack by the US.
