Donald Trump said Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro has been ‘captured and flown out of the country’ after he ordered the US military to conduct a ‘large scale strike.’
Before this operation, President Trump warned in a new interview that Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro’s ‘days are numbered’ and refused to rule out sending US ground troops to depose the left-wing leader.
The president stressed in the sitdown with Politico released Tuesday that Maduro could not be allowed to stay in power as the administration cracks down on South American drug trafficking, but declined to tip his hand about what the US could or would do to cause regime change.
Trump released a statement that said the US ‘successfully’ carried out a military strike after several explosions rocked in the capital of Caracas early Saturday.
‘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,’ Trump said.
‘This operation was done in conjunction with U.S. Law Enforcement.’
Trump disclosed that he would hold a press conference at Mar-a-Lago later in the morning to release more details.
Venezuela’s government slammed the United States for attacking civilian and military installations in multiple states.
According to US Senator, Maduro would stand trial on criminal charges in US and anticipates no further action in Venezuela.
Airplanes, loud noises and at least one column of smoke were being heard and seen in Venezuelan capital Caracas in the early hours of Saturday morning, witnesses told Reuters.
Venezuela has announced a state of national emergency and said it rejects and denounces ‘military aggression’.
