Palm Beach County, January 3
Hours after the United States carried out strikes in Venezuela that led to the capture of incumbent Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores, US President Donald Trump told Fox News that it was a complex manoeuvre and hailed the professionalism of the US armed forces.
"It was amazing to see the professionalism -- the quality of leadership...To have a few injuries, but no deaths on our side is really amazing," Trump told Fox News.
"We were surrounded by lots of people, including Generals and they knew everything that was happening. It was extremely complex- the whole manoeuvre -- the landing, number of aircraft, helicopters, different kinds of fighter jets. They just broke in, and into places which were not really able to broke into," he added.
Trump also said the US wants liberty for the people of the South American country.
Asked what is next for Venezuela after Maduro would face charges in the US, Trump told Fox News, "We can't take a chance of letting somebody else run and just take over where he left off... We want liberty for the people."
He said that the people of Venezuela were very happy with the action.
"Tremendous number of people were being killed through drugs and what they did to our country in sending prisoners, people from mental institutions, drug lords. They sent hundreds and thousands of people and that is just unforgivable."
Trump told Fox News that he had not seen anything like this, and was able to watch it in real time and watched every aspect of it.
" I've never seen anything like this. I was able to watch it in real time, and I watched every aspect of it," Trump said.
"It was amazing to see the professionalism -- the quality of leadership...amazing," he added.
The United States carried out strikes on Venezuela and captured President Nicolas Maduro, along with his wife, Cilia Flores, who were flown out of the country.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump said that the operation was done in conjunction with US Law Enforcement.
"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. Details to follow. There will be a News Conference today at 11 A.M., at Mar-a-Lago. Thank you for your attention to this matter! President DONALD J. TRUMP," he said.
US Attorney General Pamela Bondi announced that captured Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro has been charged with Narco-Terrorism and would face US justice.
"Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, have been indicted in the Southern District of New York. Nicolas Maduro has been charged with Narco-Terrorism Conspiracy, Cocaine Importation Conspiracy, Possession of Machineguns and Destructive Devices, and Conspiracy to Possess Machineguns and Destructive Devices against the United States," she said in a post on X.
"They will soon face the full wrath of American justice on American soil in American courts. On behalf of the entire U.S. DOJ, I would like to thank President Trump for having the courage to demand accountability on behalf of the American People, and a huge thank you to our brave military who conducted the incredible and highly successful mission to capture these two alleged international Narco- traffickers," she added.
The "capture of Maduro" comes amid sharp increase in tensions between the United States and Venezuela.
- ANI
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