UK – The New Arab, January 07, 2025
The Venezuelan Interior Minister claimed an Israeli national was hired as part of a group of “mercenaries” to ‘destabilise the country’.
Venezuelan authorities arrested 125 foreign nationals, including an Israeli citizen, allegedly involved in “a conspiracy to destabilise the country” and overthrow President Nicolás Maduro’s government.
Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello accused the suspects of being “mercenaries” hired by “external forces” ahead of Maduro’s planned inauguration for a new six-year term on 10 January.
Among those detained, he said, were nationals from 16 countries, including Israel, the US, Ukraine, Lebanon, Yemen, Albania, Guyana, Peru, Spain, Italy, Switzerland and Uruguay.
Venezuelan officials claimed the operation was part of an ongoing effort to thwart what they describe as “US-backed destabilisation attempts”.
During a press briefing on Monday, Cabello said the Venezuelan authorities seized firearms during the raids but refused to reveal specific actions the suspects were allegedly involved in.
