She paid tribute to security personnel and supporters who, according to the government, died while defending the country and its leadership.
Caracas, Venezuela — January 7, 2026, BNN Web Staff: Venezuela’s interim president Delcy Rodríguez on Tuesday announced a seven-day period of national mourning following deaths reported during a recent United States operation in Caracas that led to the capture of President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores.
Addressing the nation through state media, Rodríguez said the mourning period was being observed to honor those who lost their lives during what she described as an attack on Venezuelan sovereignty.
She paid tribute to security personnel and supporters who, according to the government, died while defending the country and its leadership.
Rodríguez strongly rejected claims of foreign control over Venezuela, asserting that the nation remains fully governed by its own authorities. “There is no external agent running this country,” she said, adding that Venezuela is a peaceful nation that was subjected to aggression.
The interim president also demanded the immediate return of Nicolás Maduro and Cilia Flores, who are currently in U.S. custody and have pleaded not guilty to charges related to drugs and weapons. She termed their detention illegal and reiterated that Venezuela would continue to seek their repatriation through political and diplomatic means.
While the Venezuelan government has not released an official death toll, the country’s attorney general has appointed special officials to investigate what he described as dozens of deaths linked to the operation. Cuba has separately stated that several of its nationals were among those killed.
Rodríguez, who assumed interim leadership following Maduro’s removal, said Venezuela’s sovereignty remains intact despite mounting international pressure. Her remarks came amid escalating tensions with the United States after President Donald Trump announced plans involving the transfer of millions of barrels of Venezuelan oil under interim arrangements.
The developments have further heightened uncertainty in the region, with Venezuela facing a complex political transition, international scrutiny, and growing diplomatic strain following the dramatic events in Caracas.
