Venezuelan defence chief responds to US strikes: "Victory will be ours!"

Venezuelan Defence Minister Vladimir Padrino López released a video message in which he denounced what he described as “the most criminal military aggression by the US government” against his country. 

Addressing the nation, Padrino López said:

"Heroic people of Venezuela! Soldiers of the Fatherland! Sons and daughters of Bolívar!

The Bolivarian National Armed Forces inform the whole world that early this morning, January 3, 2026, the people of Venezuela became the target of the most criminal military aggression by the US government.

Honour, duty, and history call us. Let the cry of a free homeland be heard in every corner! Victory will be ours because we are guided by reason and dignity! We will win!"

Earlier, Sky News Arabia reported that US strikes had struck the home of Venezuela’s defence minister, leading to a temporary loss of contact with him. Some media outlets speculated that he had been killed.

By Tamilla Hasanova