Caracas.- The acting president of Venezuela, Delcy Rodríguez, decreed this Tuesday seven days of mourning for the “young martyrs” who, she said, died defending the South American country and President Nicolás Maduro, who was captured along with his wife, Cilia Flores, last Saturday during an attack by US troops on Caracas and three nearby states.
These young people “
offered their lives defending Venezuela, defending President Nicolás Maduro“, stated the acting president during a visit to a commune in Caracas that was broadcast by the state channel Venezolana de Televisión (
VTV).
“Our recognition for them. The images of the inert bodies have pierced my soul, but I know that they were martyred for the supreme values of this Republic,” added Rodríguez without yet specifying the total number of victims who died in the attacks.
Venezuelan authorities have also not reported on the total damage, those affected, and injured after the U.S. attacks in Caracas and the states of Miranda, La Guaira, and Aragua.
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So far,
only 24 deaths from the Venezuelan Army and 32 Cuban military personnel have been confirmed, which the island’s government identified on Sunday.
This Tuesday, in addition, the Bolivarian National Armed Forces (FANB) paid tribute in a funeral to the 24 Army soldiers.
For his part, the Attorney General, Tarek William Saab, announced on this same day the appointment of three officials to investigate what he considers to be “dozens” of deaths, both civilians and military personnel, a number that, according to the official, is still being counted.
Venezuelan sources cited by
The New York Times revealed that 80 people died in the operation in Venezuela, while Washington officials said that half a dozen U.S. soldiers were injured, although President Donald Trump did not want to confirm the figures.
On Monday, a dozen people said goodbye to Rosa Elena González, 80 years old and a resident of the state of La Guaira, near Caracas, who died during the attacks.
Earlier this Tuesday, Rodríguez assured that no “external agent” governs the South American country, after Trump assured that part of his Administration will be in charge of coordinating a transition in the oil nation.
“We have grown in strength, we have grown spiritually to face the challenges, the aggressions, the threats. Personally, to those who threaten me, I say: my destiny is not decided by anyone but God, that is my answer,” he added.
These statements contradict the claims of Trump, who on Sunday demanded from Rodríguez “full access” to the South American country in terms of natural resources and other matters, while threatening to carry out new attacks on Venezuela if the Government “does not behave well”.
