Pentagon head mocks Russian air defences after Maduro capture operation Video

US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has mocked the performance of Russian-made air defence systems in Venezuela, saying they failed to prevent a US operation that led to the capture of ousted Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in Caracas.

Speaking at an event in Virginia on January 5, Hegseth disclosed that nearly 200 US military personnel took part in the mission, which he described as a successful law enforcement operation. He said no American troops were killed during the raid, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media. 

“As nearly 200 of our greatest Americans went downtown in Caracas,” Hegseth said, referring to the operation. He then took aim at Venezuela’s military capabilities, particularly its Russian-supplied systems, adding: “Seems those Russian air defences didn’t work so well, did they?”

Several US soldiers were injured in the operation, according to US officials. Dozens of Venezuelans were killed, along with 32 Cuban citizens who were part of Maduro's security detail, Cuba's government said.

By Sabina Mammadli