US sabotaged Venezuelan oil facilities: Ruling party leader
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Venezuela points its fingers toward the United States for sabotage attempts carried out against its energy infrastructure as Washington sanctions Caracas and tries to further corner the country.
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National Assembly member and Vice President of Venezuela's United Socialist Party (PSUV) Diosdado Cabello addresses the media during a news conference of the ruling Socialist Party in Caracas, Venezuela February 14, 2022 (Reuters)
The United States sabotaged state-run Venezuelan oil facilities, United Socialist Party of Venezuela leader Diosdado Cabello said on Tuesday.
Venezuelan Petroleum Minister Tareck El Aissami said Sunday that a gas pipeline for the Petroleos de Venezuela (PDVSA) energy firm in the northern state of Carabobo was subjected to an attack that triggered a fire at one of its sites.
The country's authorities said last month that there was an attempt at sabotaging the El Palito oil refinery in Carabobo, which could have inflicted "catastrophic damage" on the potentially affected facilities.
A month earlier, a massive fire broke out at the Cardon refinery in the northern state of Falcon in May.
"This is part of the US imperialism policy: attacking oil facilities, sending mercenaries here, some of whom were detained, while others were convicted of the coup attempt and murder in our country. These are US government envoys," Cabello told a press conference in Caracas on Monday.
Cabello then stressed that the recent sabotage carried out at the PDVSA pipelines showed that Washington knows no bounds when it comes to its goal to destabilize the situation in Venezuela.
"Such events should teach us that imperialism does not rest. They would like to see us torn apart and begging for mercy. It will not happen because our nation is not used to it; our nation does not give up," he said.
Cabello stressed that his country's security authorities will respond accordingly to any act of aggression carried out against Venezuela on Venezuelan soil.
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro had previously accused outgoing Colombian President Ivan Duque of being implicated in attacks on the oil and electricity infrastructure of Venezuela.
Maduro in early June called on the National Bolivarian Armed Forces of Venezuela to raise their alert levels in order to face potential threats against the country.
During a promotion ceremony for the professional military personnel of the presidential honor guard and Directorate-General for Combating Military Espionage, Maduro accused the outgoing Colombian President Ivan Duque of taking out vengeance on Venezuela, warning that the country must remain vigilant.
Maduro pointed out in April that Colombian President "Ivan Duque has activated joint plans with criminals and gangs," adding that infiltrating groups of criminals will "attack the police and military first" after crossing the Colombia-Venezuela border.
Venezuela severed diplomatic relations with Colombia in February 2019 after an attempt by opposition activists led by Juan Guaido to truck humanitarian aid across the border. The Venezuelan government said this was an invasion attempt.
Caracas has repeatedly accused Bogota of consistently destabilizing the internal situation in Venezuela by means of "attempted invasions" and the infiltration of armed terrorist groups across the border.
