"The Venezuelan government is in power in the country, no one else," interim president of Venezuela Delcy Rodriguez declared on January 6.
"We are a people who never surrender or give up," she added, expressing gratitude to those who died in the recent US strike.
The Venezuelan military on the same day released a list of 23 military personnel, including five generals, who died due to US firepower. Caracas has not disclosed specific civilian casualties, but Venezuelan attorney general Tarek William Saab stated that "dozens of people," including military personnel and civilians, had died.
Cuba, a close ally of Venezuela, previously reported that 32 of its military personnel died following the US-led strike, mostly members of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro's guard detail.
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Rodriguez during a session of the Venezuelan national assembly on January 6. Photo: AFP |
Early on January 3, the United States launched an operation named "Absolute Resolve," deploying approximately 150 fighter jets to simultaneously conduct airstrikes on multiple targets in Venezuela. This action facilitated special forces moving by helicopter into the capital, Caracas, to capture President Maduro and his wife.
US President Donald Trump later declared that the US was "in charge" of Venezuela and would "run" the South American nation during a transitional period. Despite this, Trump expressed willingness to cooperate with Rodriguez, who served as vice president under Maduro, provided Venezuela granted the US access to its vast oil reserves.
Venezuela's interim president has sent mixed signals regarding her readiness to cooperate with the US, at times appearing flexible and at other times firm. Agence France-Presse (AFP) noted that Rodriguez seemed concerned about maintaining support from hardliners, who control security forces and militias in Venezuela.
The leader sought to show unity with Minister of Interior Diosdado Cabello and Minister of Defense Vladimir Padrino Lopez, two hardline officials who wield significant power within President Maduro's administration.
Meanwhile, Trump warned that Rodriguez would "pay a very heavy price, perhaps even greater than Maduro," if the interim president of Venezuela did not meet US demands.
Pham Giang (According to AFP)
