Venezuelan Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino says a significant portion of Nicolás Maduro’s security detail was killed in U.S bombing

Venezuelan Defense Minister General Vladimir Padrino announced on Sunday that a significant portion of former President Nicolás Maduro’s security detail was killed during the U.S.-led operation that captured him on Saturday.

While he did not provide specific casualty numbers, Padrino emphasized that the nation’s armed forces have been mobilized to protect Venezuela’s sovereignty.

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Government Officials Reaffirm Loyalty

Despite Maduro being held in a New York detention center pending a Monday court appearance on drug charges, top officials in Caracas declared their continued allegiance to the president.

Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello stressed the unity of the revolutionary government, urging citizens not to fall for what he called “enemy provocations.”

“Here, the unity of the revolutionary force is more than guaranteed, and there is only one president, whose name is Nicolás Maduro Moros,” Cabello said in an audio circulated by the ruling PSUV party.

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Delcy Rodriguez Assumes Interim Leadership

Vice President Delcy Rodriguez, who also serves as Venezuela’s oil minister, has been confirmed as interim leader by the country’s Supreme Court.

Though Rodriguez has stepped into the leadership role, she maintains that Maduro remains the legitimate president.

Known for her deep knowledge of the oil sector and pragmatic ties with the private sector, Rodriguez has positioned herself as a stabilizing force within Maduro’s inner circle.

Rodriguez has publicly rejected U.S. claims that she is willing to work with the Trump administration, highlighting Venezuela’s determination to retain control over its resources.

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Oil Exports and Economic Strain

Venezuela’s state-run oil company PDVSA has reportedly asked joint ventures to reduce production due to the export paralysis triggered by the U.S. blockade and seizure of sanctioned tankers.

Once a regional economic powerhouse, Venezuela’s economy has been in freefall under Maduro, driving one in five Venezuelans abroad in one of the largest exoduses in Latin America.

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Life Continues Amid Uncertainty

Despite the tense political climate, daily life in some cities has shown glimpses of normalcy. In Maracaibo, bakeries, coffee shops, and small supermarkets opened on Sunday.

Citizens ventured out to buy essentials, navigating the lingering fear from the overnight U.S. military operation.

“Yesterday I was very afraid to go out, but today I had to. This situation caught me without food and I need to figure things out,” said a single mother in Maracaibo. “If this is necessary for my son to grow up in a free country, I’ll keep enduring the fear.”

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Opposition Leaders Left on the Sidelines

U.S. President Donald Trump dismissed the idea of opposition leader and Nobel Peace Prize winner Maria Corina Machado taking over, saying she lacked support.

Machado was barred from standing in the 2024 elections, while her ally Edmundo Gonzalez, who many argue legitimately won, has yet to see any international recognition or backing from the U.S.

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Global Reactions and Legal Questions

The legality of the U.S. raid has been questioned by many international observers.

Western nations and UN officials called for diplomatic solutions, with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warning of a dangerous precedent. Russia and China, longtime backers of Maduro, condemned the U.S. action.

Maduro, who has consistently denied criminal involvement, was indicted in the U.S. in 2020 on charges including narco-terrorism conspiracy.

The operation and its aftermath have left Venezuela facing uncertainty and a complex political landscape.