Venezuelan Foreign Minister: US Attacks a Serious Threat to the Stability of Latin American Regions

JAKARTA - US President Donald Trump claimed his forces launched a major attack and captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, an accusation that sparked international condemnation and demands for clarification, officials said.

Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yvan Gil Pinto, in an interview with the Russian news agency RIA Novosti, said Latin American peace was "disturbed" by Washington's actions, while assessing the claim of the attack as a serious threat to regional stability.

Trump on Saturday said the US had attacked Venezuela and that Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were arrested and taken abroad.

A number of media outlets reported explosions in Caracas and said the operation was carried out by the elite Delta Force unit, but there was no official confirmation from the Pentagon or independent authorities regarding the details of the operation.

The Venezuelan government said it did not know where Maduro was and demanded proof that the president was alive.

This statement adds uncertainty to Washington's claims and media reports regarding events in the capital.

Trump then uploaded a photo that claimed to show Maduro on board a US ship, but the authenticity and context of the image have also not been independently verified.

A number of US Congress members from both parties called the operation illegal and in violation of international law, while the Trump administration said Maduro would be brought to justice.

Venezuela's Foreign Ministry said it would lodge a complaint with international organizations and request an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council to discuss Washington's actions.

Caracas considers the claim of the arrest of its leader as a blatant aggression and a violation of sovereignty, and urges the international community to pressure the US to provide clarification and refrain from escalation.

Russia expressed its solidarity with the Venezuelan people and was concerned by reports that Maduro and his wife were forcibly removed as part of a US aggression.

Moscow called for the release of Maduro and Cilia Flores and the prevention of further escalation, stressing a peaceful settlement in accordance with the UN Charter and international law.

Analysts warn the conflicting claims risk inflaming regional tensions, while Latin American countries are monitoring developments with high alert.