During an event broadcast on Venezuelan state television VTV, Maduro stated, “All military personnel worldwide know the strength of the ‘Igla-S’ system. Venezuela has more than 5,000 missiles at key air defense sites to ensure the peace, stability, and calm of our people. More than 5,000. Those who understand will understand.” The Venezuelan president added that “thousands of trained operators” can occupy suitable air defense positions throughout Venezuela, from north to south and east to west, to ensure the country is invulnerable: “The homeland must be invulnerable; no one should encroach on Venezuela because we do not encroach on anyone.” This comes amid escalating tensions following the United States’ use of its military forces to destroy boats near Venezuela’s shores on alleged drug trafficking charges, amidst potential American warnings of strikes within Venezuelan territory. U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced this morning that U.S. forces in the Pacific Ocean carried out an operation resulting in the death of three people on board. Hegseth stated, “The military executed a strike against a vessel in the eastern part of the Pacific Ocean,” adding, “Three people on the vessel were killed, and no American forces were harmed during the strike.”
