During his «Con el Mazo Dando” (Hitting with the Hammer) program, broadcast this Wednesday, the secretary general of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) and also Minister for Interior Relations, Justice and Peace, Diosdado Cabello, denounced that Venezuela was the victim of a military attack with high-precision bombings that did not distinguish between military targets and the civilian population. The preliminary toll is devastating: more than 100 people killed and tens of wounded people, including women, young people, and entire families who were in their homes, he assured.
Cabello described the events as a war crime and a crime against humanity, emphasizing that the victims were innocent civilians hit by high-precision bombs.
During the special broadcast number 557, were presented evidences showing that the targets of the attack were not military installations, but civilian and scientific infrastructure instead. Among the affected targets were family homes, insulin depots, supplies for hemodialysis – which would affect more than 9,500 patients – and research centers such as the Venezuelan Institute for Scientific Research (IVIC). It was specifically mentioned the use of AGM-154C-1 missiles against these facilities.
One of the most serious points of the denounce was the claim that President Nicolás Maduro and First Lady Cilia Flores were not only kidnapped, but also resulted wounded during the attack, being now under conditions of prisoners of war. Cabello demanded their immediate return to Venezuela, alive.
Within this context, the political leader ratified that the National Constitution remains in effect and announced that, following the pre-established order, Delcy Rodríguez has assumed the role of acting president of the Republic, having the institutional and popular support.