75 People Killed in Maduro's Arrest Operation

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro/PHOTO via Instagram @nicolasmaduro

JAKARTA - It is reported that as many as 75 people were killed in the military operation to arrest Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro carried out by the United States on January 3.

The Washington Post, citing officials familiar with the issue, reported that dozens of people were killed in the shootout that took place at Maduro's compound in Caracas.

A source revealed that at least 67 people were killed during the US attack, while another source said that around 75 to 80 people were killed.

The estimated number of deaths includes data on Cuban and Venezuelan military personnel as well as civilians.

On January 3, the US launched a massive attack on Venezuela and arrested President Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, and flew them to New York.

President Donald Trump announced that Maduro and Flores would be tried for allegedly being involved in "narcoterrorism" and posing a threat, including a threat to the US.

In response to the situation, Caracas then urged an emergency meeting of the UN to discuss the US operation.

Venezuela's Supreme Court temporarily handed over the duties of the head of state to Vice President Delcy Rodriguez, who was officially inaugurated as interim president in front of the National Assembly on January 5.

A number of countries, namely Russia, China, and North Korea, strongly condemned the US actions against Venezuela.

The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed solidarity with the Venezuelan people and called for the release of Maduro and his wife, as well as demanding the prevention of further escalation.