Colombia's right-wing used Pegasus to spy on Venezuela: Maduro

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
8 Jan 2025 23:15
1 Shares

The Venezuelan president says two Americans detained on Tuesday and accused of planning unspecified "terrorist" activities were a "senior FBI official" and a "senior military official."

Listen

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro gestures as he speaks during a swearing-in march for combatant forces in Caracas, on January 7, 2025. (AFP)

Venezuela has avoided a civil war through "perseverance and determination," Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro indicated on Wednesday.

Maduro accused former right-wing Colombian President Ivan Duque of collaborating with drug traffickers and armed groups to prepare an invasion of Venezuela, spying on the country using the Israeli Pegasus spyware, and waging all forms of warfare against Caracas.

"We have defeated them in all scenarios, and we will defeat them again," he underlined in a statement.

Earlier on Wednesday, Maduro announced that he would sign a decree approving the proposal from the General Staff to convene and activate the country's Integral Defense Leadership Body (ODDI).

The ODDI, which integrates the entire structure of popular political power, the Venezuelan National Armed Forces, militias, and police forces, was activated as of Wednesday in all states and municipalities to "ensure peace and security," according to Maduro.

Seven foreign mercenaries arrested in Venezuela, Maduro says

In a related context, Maduro also announced that two senior US officials were among seven foreign mercenaries arrested just days before his inauguration for a third term.

The Venezuelan president stated during an event broadcast on state television that the two Americans detained on Tuesday and accused of planning unspecified "terrorist" activities were a "senior FBI official" and a "senior military official."

"We are more united than ever to protect our homeland’s peace and stability. We must stay vigilant and prepared," he asserted.

The arrests added to another 125 foreigners from 25 nationalities Maduro said were being held over "a foreign mercenary aggression financed by the outgoing US government."

Maduro did not disclose further details about the identities of the Americans or the others detained, who included two Colombian "hitmen" and three Ukrainians.

He also pointed out that what he described as a "desperate minority" is turning to the North, referring to the United States, to "seek power", under the false assumption that the Venezuelan people would be intimidated.

The announcement of the arrests on Tuesday came shortly after President Joe Biden hosted exiled Venezuelan opposition leader Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia in Washington.

During their meeting, Biden expressed support for a "peaceful transfer back to democratic rule" in Venezuela and cautioned against further repression within the country.

The United States, along with several of Venezuela's neighbors, believes that Gonzalez Urrutia won the July presidential election and that the official results were manipulated.

Maduro, who has been in power since 2013, is set to be sworn in on Friday for a third six-year term.