CARACAS, VENEZUELA— Five hostages held by the authoritarian Venezuelan dictator Nicholas Maduro’s Socialist regime at the Argentinian Embassy in the nation’s capital, Caracas, were rescued on Tuesday night in what Secretary of State Marco Rubio called “a precise operation.”
The Washington Post reported that the five hostages were members of the Venezuelan opposition to the Maduro regime, which has held power in Venezuela since 2013. The opposition members were granted asylum in the Argentinian Embassy by the government of Argentine President Javier Milei in March after forces loyal to Maduro issued warrants for their arrest.
The post reported, “Since late November, the group had denounced the constant presence of intelligence service agents and police outside the residence.”
After being rescued by the U.S., the Venezuelan nationals were transported to the United States, out of the reach of Maduro’s intelligence agents.
In a post to X, Rubio stated, “The U.S. welcomes the successful rescue of all hostages held by the Maduro regime at the Argentinian Embassy in Caracas. Following a precise operation, all hostages are now safely on U.S. soil. Maduro’s illegitimate regime has undermined Venezuela’s institutions, violated human rights, and endangered our regional security. We extend our gratitude to all personnel involved in this operation and to our partners who assisted in securing the safe liberation of these Venezuelan heroes.”
The group included the campaign manager and communications director of opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, who was herself “violently intercepted” by Maduro’s agents in January, according to The New York Times, only to be released later. Machado called the rescue an “impeccable and epic operation for the Freedom of five heroes of Venezuela,” in a post to X.
