Trump claims US forces have captured Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro and wife
The United States President Donald Trump has claimed to have captured the Venezuelan president. Trump posted on social media stating that President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Adela Flores, are now in the custody of US forces. They have reportedly been taken out of Venezuela.
Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodríguez has demanded proof that the country's president is alive, as Maduro's whereabouts are unknown.
Trump said he would provide full details on the matter at a press conference tonight at 8 PM (Indian time). However, there has been no reaction from Venezuela to Trump's claim so far.
The United States launched this attack at a time when tensions between the two countries are heightened. The US has deployed troops, aircraft, and warships in the waters near Venezuela.
In the past four months, the US military has attacked 35 Venezuelan vessels, killing more than 100 people. The US claims these vessels were involved in drug trafficking.
The US launched attacks on four Venezuelan cities around 2 AM last night. According to US media reports, Trump had ordered attacks on military facilities and several key locations inside Venezuela.
Several explosions were heard almost simultaneously in various areas of Caracas, the capital of Venezuela. The areas where the explosions occurred include military bases.
Following the US attacks, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro issued a statement saying he would retaliate. He declared a state of emergency across the country. He said the US wanted to stage a coup to seize Venezuela's oil and mineral resources. Trump announced Maduro's capture about an hour after Maduro's statement.
Venezuelan Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino López announced the deployment of military forces throughout the country.
He said that all armed forces would be deployed according to Maduro's orders, but he made no mention of Maduro's arrest.
"They have attacked us, but they will not be able to subdue us," he said.
He warned, "We will not succumb to the terror that the enemy wants to create."