[ad_1]
The mercenaries are believed to have attacked Venezuela: the government in Caracas has deployed tens of thousands of soldiers. The opposition believes that President Maduro faked the attack. The latter announced the arrest of two American citizens.
The Venezuelan government has deployed more than 25,000 soldiers after an alleged attempt to invade “terrorist mercenaries.” Authorities said they are looking for other suspected fighters who are active in the country.
Venezuelan officials said eight attackers died in the incident last Sunday. In total, 13 suspects were arrested in this “invasion” attempt – other sources speak of 15 arrested. According to head of state Nicolás Maduro, there should also be two US citizens. The president did not mention the nationalities of the other detainees.
Maduro announces arrest of US citizens
The two US citizens were arrested by Venezuelan security forces, Maduro said in a speech. They are said to have belonged to a group that attempted to infiltrate Venezuela from the sea. In the national television address, Maduro showed two blue American passports, which are said to belong to men, and read the names and dates of birth. The men, 34 and 41, were among the security guards of United States President Donald Trump, Maduro said. It also showed equipment like walkie talkies and night vision devices.
A Florida veteran, Jordan Goudreau, had said before Maduro’s speech that he had worked with the two arrested Americans on a mission to “liberate” Venezuela. They were also former American soldiers with whom he had served in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Different information about the incident.
Goudreau initially added that he had made a pact with the US-backed opposition leader Juan Guaidó to overthrow Maduro. However, Guaidó never complied with the agreement. However, Goudreau claims to be moving forward with an underfunded operation involving nearly 60 fighters, including the two US veterans. USA Guaidó, however, denied any participation.
Goudreau confirmed that he was not ultimately supported by Guaidó, the American or Colombian governments.
The opposition blames Maduro’s allies
Representatives of the socialist government and Maduro accuse Colombia and the United States of organizing and executing the attack with the aim of overthrowing the president. Both countries rejected this.
However, the United States and dozens of other states do not recognize Maduro’s presidency and want to see self-proclaimed interim president Guaidó at the helm of the government. Opposition politicians from Venezuela and Washington accused Maduro’s allies of faking the attack themselves.
The struggle for power lasts more than a year.
Leftist leader Maduro and opposition leader Guaidó have been involved in a bitter power struggle for more than a year. Washington supports Guaidó, who was proclaimed transition president of the South American country in early 2019.
