Vladimir López, Venezuela’s defence minister, has accused the United States of “criminal military aggression” against the country.
Several explosions rocked Caracas early Saturday, with parts of the Venezuelan capital cut off from the electricity grid.
Hours later, US President Donald Trump announced on social media that his country has successfully captured Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro and his wife.
López spoke in a video shared on social media.
He said Venezuelan airspace was attacked in the wee hours, describing the action as “the most criminal military aggression by the US government in North America”.
According to him, missiles and rockets fired from combat helicopters struck urban areas in Caracas as well as parts of Miranda, Aragua and La Guaira states.
He said authorities were still compiling information on civilians killed or injured during the attacks.
“This invasion represents the greatest outrage the country has ever suffered,” López said.
He accused the United States of violating the United Nations charter and international law, calling on the international community and multilateral organisations to condemn the action.
The defence minister said the attack was not a fight against terrorism but a bid to impose regime change and seize Venezuela’s strategic resources.
“They have attacked us but they will not vanquish us,” he said.
“We will form an indestructible wall of resistance; our vocation is peace, but our heritage is the fight for freedom.”
He urged Venezuelans and members of the armed forces to unite in defence of the country’s sovereignty and right to self-determination.
