Pentagon Chief Reveals US Deploys Nearly 200 Troops to Capture Venezuelan President Maduro

JAKARTA - Head of the US Department of War (Pentagon) Pete Hegseth revealed that his country's military deployed nearly 200 personnel into the Venezuelan capital, Caracas, as part of an operation to arrest President Nicolas Maduro.

US forces arrested President Maduro and his wife over the weekend, with Washington charging him with a number of offences and making him the target of a $50 million reward.

"Almost 200 of our best American soldiers went to downtown Caracas and arrested an individual who was accused and sought by American justice, to support law enforcement, without any American citizens being killed," the Pentagon chief said in a speech to US sailors and shipyard workers in Virginia, reported Al Arabiya from AFP (6/1).

It was the first time a US official had given a firm figure on the number of US troops who stormed Caracas by helicopter as part of the surprise operation, which also involved more than 150 military aircraft in a variety of roles, including attacking Venezuela's defences.

President Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores were taken to New York, United States, immediately after the arrest, to face trial.

In an initial hearing in a New York federal court, President Maduro pleaded not guilty to four criminal charges, namely: drug terrorism, cocaine import conspiracy, and possession of machine guns and explosive devices.

"I am innocent. I am innocent. I am a good person. I am still the president of my country," Maduro said through an interpreter, before being cut off by US District Judge Alvin Hellerstein, launching Al Arabiya from Reuters.

The wife also pleaded not guilty. The trial of the two will be held again on March 17.