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The air defense network of Venezuela offered little to no resistance during the United States attack early Saturday morning that led to the capture of President Nicolás Maduro, despite prior warnings that its layered system could seriously complicate a military operation of this kind.
According to an analysis by the Financial Times, experts had warned that the Venezuelan air defense system, made up of Russian-origin systems and other layers of protection, posed an operational risk for U.S. forces.
However, in practice, the device did not succeed in visibly curbing or complicating the air assault that accompanied the nighttime raid in Caracas and other states of the South American country.
The limited air defense response reinforces the narrative presented by President Donald Trump, who stated today in a press conference that the operation was carried out with unprecedented effectiveness since World War II and without any casualties or losses of American equipment.
According to Trump, the Venezuelan forces were on alert and expecting the attack, but they were quickly "neutralized."
The collapse of air defense occurred against a backdrop of widespread blackouts in the capital and confusion within the military structures of Chavismo.
After the operation, the Venezuelan regime denounced an "imperialist aggression," although it avoided providing technical details about the functioning or failure of its air defense systems.
The U.S. military action culminated in the capture of Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, who, according to Washington, will be transported to New York to face charges of drug trafficking and possession of weapons of war.
Trump announced that the United States will maintain control over Venezuela "until there is a fair and orderly transition" and linked that presence to the management and reconstruction of the oil industry with participation from American companies.
The opposition leader María Corina Machado stated that Maduro must answer for his crimes and that the country is ready to embark on a new phase of power.
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