Most of President Maduro's security team killed…"Estimated 80 dead"

Korea Economic Daily

Summary

It reported that about 80 people, including the security team, soldiers, and civilians, were killed during the U.S. arrest of Venezuelan President Maduro.
The Venezuelan government strongly denounced this U.S. military operation as a violation of sovereignty.
The United States said it has charged President Maduro with drug terrorism and is conducting legal proceedings.

During the U.S. arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, most of President Maduro's security team were reportedly killed by U.S. troops.

On the 4th (local time), according to The New York Times (NYT) and others, Vladimir Padrino, Venezuela's minister of defense, said in a morning broadcast speech, "In this operation, most of Maduro's security team, soldiers, and innocent civilians were killed yesterday."

Minister Padrino condemned it, saying, "Our military firmly rejects the cowardly act of the United States kidnapping President Maduro and his wife," and, "This is an act that ruthlessly killed a significant number of security personnel, soldiers, and innocent civilians."

He did not disclose the exact number of casualties. However, the NYT, citing a senior Venezuelan official, reported that the number of deaths from the U.S. attack the previous day, including President Maduro's security personnel and civilians, was counted as 80. The Venezuelan official said the death toll could increase.

Minister Padrino supported Vice President Delcy Rodríguez taking on the role of acting president. He also claimed that the country's military has been mobilized nationwide to guarantee sovereignty.

Earlier, U.S. special forces Delta Force soldiers assigned to the task of arresting Maduro raided the president's safe house, secured custody, and subsequently transported President Maduro and his wife to the United States. The Delta Force soldiers located his position about three minutes after arriving at Maduro's hideout and arrested the president about five minutes after entering the building.

U.S. forces struck Caracas, the capital of Venezuela, and states such as Miranda, Aragua, and La Guaira from the night of the 2nd into the early morning of the 3rd. Among the airstrike targets was an apartment building in Catia La Mar, a low-income residential area on the west coast near Caracas airport, and some residents were reported killed. It is reported that there were no U.S. military deaths related to this operation.

The United States has charged President Maduro with drug terrorism and is conducting judicial proceedings. Regarding this operation, the Venezuelan government has protested, saying the U.S. use of force constitutes a violation of sovereignty.

Jin Young-gi, Hankyung.com reporter young71@hankyung.com