In a new development in the rapidly unfolding events in Caracas, Venezuelan authorities have revealed detailed information regarding the health of ousted President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, following their arrest by US forces on January 3. These statements shed light on the violence that accompanied the military operation and its immediate repercussions.
Details of injuries and health condition
Venezuelan Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello confirmed during his weekly program broadcast on state television that the arrest was not peaceful, but rather involved clashes that resulted in injuries to Maduro and his wife. Cabello explained, "Former First Lady Cilia Flores suffered a head injury and a severe blow to her body, while Nicolás Maduro sustained a leg injury." The minister indicated that the couple is currently recovering, describing their escape from more serious injuries as "good luck" given the intensity of the attack.
100 dead: Bloody toll of the operation
In a related development, Cabello announced a staggering death toll from the US attack on Caracas. According to initial official figures, the operation resulted in 100 deaths and a similar number of injuries. The Interior Minister emphasized that these figures represent only those recorded "so far," describing the attack as "horrific" and a direct attack on the country's sovereignty, reflecting the scale of firepower used during the raid and takeover.
Background to the historical tension between Washington and Caracas
This momentous event cannot be separated from the context of historically strained relations between the United States and Venezuela. For years, Washington has imposed a series of harsh economic sanctions on Caracas as part of its "maximum pressure" campaign, accusing the Maduro regime of corruption and human rights abuses. The US Department of Justice had previously indicted Maduro and senior officials on charges of "terrorism and drug trafficking," offering a $15 million reward for information leading to his capture. This paved the way, from the US perspective, politically and legally for this unprecedented military operation in Latin America.
Collapse of diplomatic relations
For her part, Venezuelan interim president Delcy Rodríguez described the attack as a dark turning point in the history of relations between the two countries. Rodríguez, who was sworn in as president on Monday, said the incident had "damaged relations with the United States like never before." Speaking to reporters Wednesday evening, she added, "Regarding relations between Venezuela and the United States, the first thing to say is that a dark stain has appeared in our relations, the likes of which we have never seen before." She noted that repairing this rift could take decades, amid fears of regional repercussions that could affect the stability of other South American countries.
