Overview
- UN human rights spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani called the operation a violation of international law and urged states to defend the UN Charter.
- Venezuela’s Supreme Court transferred presidential duties to Vice President Delcy Rodríguez, who was sworn in as acting president, and Caracas requested an urgent UN meeting.
- U.S. authorities say Nicolás Maduro and Cilia Flores are in custody in New York on narcoterrorism-related charges; both pleaded not guilty and a court date is set for March 17.
- Casualty figures remain disputed, with the Washington Post citing unnamed officials who reported more than 70 deaths, and Russia’s Maria Zakharova rejecting U.S. claims the raid was bloodless.
- Moscow and Beijing condemned the operation and demanded the pair’s release, as separate talks in Paris weighed future security guarantees for Ukraine and a U.S. NATO envoy said a peace deal is nearly ready.