The government of Venezuela said it foiled a marine invasion by the so-called "terrorist mercenaries" who tried to enter the country via speedboats from nearby Colombia. As a result of this intrusion, eight people were reportedly killed, while two were apprehended.

The mercenaries landed early Sunday on a beach in La Guaira's port city, about 32 kilometers or 20 miles from the capital Caracas. This was according to Venezuela Interior Minister Nestor Reverol during his televised address.

However, the government of Colombia denied any link to the occurrence, while Venezuela's opposition claimed that the suspected attack appeared to be a staged one.

Speed Boats from Colombia

According to Reverol, the speed boats came from nearby Colombia, and the plan, he continued, was to assassinate the government leaders, not to mention, create chaos.

The all-powerful Constituent Assembly Diosdado Cabello announced the apprehensions and fatalities via a press conference, and that a huge supply of weapons had been in the custody of the security forces, "along with some vehicles."

According to Vice President Delcy Rodriguez, the administration has evidence associated with the attack "to a mercenary from the United States." the nation's vice president also alleged that the US and the Colombian governments were behind the destabilization initiatives.

Colombia's Claim

The foreign ministry of Colombia, for its part, said in a statement that Venezuela's allegation was baseless and blamed it for trying to "divert attention from the actual problems that the Venezuelans currently live in."

Meanwhile, Venezuela President Nicolas Maduro, who was considered illegitimate by more than 50 nations after the 2018 re-election that was said to be deceitful, has condemned innumerable attempts to take him out of power.

Last year, the opposition leader, as well as the National Assembly head, Juan Guaido, rallied several soldiers behind him to attempt "to force Maduro from power although it swiftly failed" when several vital players backed out the last minute.

In a statement, the office of Guaido said that the certified version was perforated with some inconsistencies, contradictions, and doubts. More so, the statement indicated the "alleged event" could have been performed to tar the opposition or conceal extrajudicial killings by the state troops.

The Defense Minister of Venezuela, Vladimir Padrino, said that among the seized weapons were used in the unsuccessful uprising which Guaido reportedly led last year. The defense minister added, the army stayed loyal to Maduro and would even launch patrols that would focus on the coast "in the wake of the incident." 

Nations Disowning Maduro

As earlier mentioned, the US and the more than 50 other nations disowned Maduro after his doubtful 2018 election, which, according to many, was rigged, and preferably have recognized opposition head, Guaido as Venezuela's "legitimate interim leader."

However, Maduro retains the support of the armed forces of the country, and other countries such as Russia and China, which have also harshly criticized the sanctions of the US.

In addition, Maduro and his allies allege that the Trump administration is determined to end the socialist government of Venezuela to exploit the South American country's massive underground oil reserves.

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