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.
Nicolas Maduro was declared the winner of the 2024 presidential election while opposition leader Edmundo González Urrutia have contested the result with Argentina’s government considering him “Venezuela’s president-elect,” telling reporters that he “is under political persecution by the regime of dictator Nicolás Maduro,” per the Buenos Aires Herald.
In January, President Donald Trump issued a stark warning to the Maduro regime in a post to Truth Social, saying: “Venezuelan democracy activist Maria Corina Machado and President-elect Gonzalez are peacefully expressing the voices and the WILL of the Venezuelan people with hundreds of thousands of people demonstrating against the regime. The great Venezuelan American community in the United States overwhelmingly support a free Venezuela, and strongly supported me. These freedom fighters should not be harmed, and MUST stay SAFE and ALIVE!”
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 U.S. welcomes the successful rescue of all hostages held by the Maduro regime at the Argentinian Embassy in Caracas.
— Secretary Marco Rubio (@SecRubio) May 7, 2025
Following a precise operation, all hostages are now safely on U.S. soil. Maduro's illegitimate regime has undermined Venezuela's institutions, violated human…
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.
Nicolas Maduro was declared the winner of the 2024 presidential election while opposition leader Edmundo González Urrutia have contested the result with Argentina’s government considering him “Venezuela’s president-elect,” telling reporters that he “is under political persecution by the regime of dictator Nicolás Maduro,” per the Buenos Aires Herald.
In January, President Donald Trump issued a stark warning to the Maduro regime in a post to Truth Social, saying: “Venezuelan democracy activist Maria Corina Machado and President-elect Gonzalez are peacefully expressing the voices and the WILL of the Venezuelan people with hundreds of thousands of people demonstrating against the regime. The great Venezuelan American community in the United States overwhelmingly support a free Venezuela, and strongly supported me. These freedom fighters should not be harmed, and MUST stay SAFE and ALIVE!”
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