At Least 40 Killed, Including Civilians, in Venezuela Following US Attack

"Missiles and Bombs Fell on Both Civilian and Military Targets"

The New York Times (NYT), citing a senior Venezuelan official who requested anonymity, reported that at least 40 people, including both soldiers and civilians, were killed in Venezuela as a result of a US military attack.

In the early hours of the 3rd (local time), flames erupted at Puerto Tiuna, Venezuela's largest military facility, following a US airstrike. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

On this day, the US military conducted airstrikes on Caracas, the capital of Venezuela, as well as the states of Miranda, Aragua, and La Guaira.

Puerto Tiuna, Venezuela's largest military base, and La Carlota Air Base, located east of Caracas, were attacked. It was reported that the oil storage facilities of the Venezuelan state oil company (PDVSA) were not damaged.

Among the targets was an apartment building in Catia La Mar, a low-income residential area on the western coast near Caracas Airport, which was also struck by the US military. As a result, an 80-year-old woman was killed and another person was seriously injured.

According to the NYT, Venezuelan government investigators visited the site in the afternoon, spoke with witnesses about the events, and collected projectiles.

Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yvan Gil told Russia's state-run RIA Novosti, "Missiles and bombs fell on both civilian and military targets," adding, "We are still assessing the extent of the damage, but there have been casualties among both civilians and soldiers."

Minister Gil criticized the destruction of civilian infrastructure as a violation of international humanitarian law.

The US Army's elite special operations unit, Delta Force, raided a safe house, arrested President Maduro, and extradited him to the United States.

In contrast, US President Donald Trump stated that although several US soldiers were injured during the operation, there were no fatalities.

In an interview with Fox News, President Trump said, "I believe no one (among the US troops) was killed. Some were attacked, but they all returned in very good condition," adding, "One helicopter came under heavy attack, but it also returned."

President Trump also suggested in a separate interview with the press that many Cubans who were protecting President Maduro lost their lives during his capture, indicating that a significant number of Cuban security personnel were killed.