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Venezuelan Troops Trained 'Guerrilla Force' to Fire Missiles, Media Claims

© AP Photo / Ariana CubillosSoldiers march during a military parade commemorating the 20th anniversary of the failed coup attempt by President Hugo Chavez in Caracas, Venezuela
Soldiers march during a military parade commemorating the 20th anniversary of the failed coup attempt by President Hugo Chavez in Caracas, Venezuela - Sputnik International
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Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro has earlier praised the country’s armed forces for remaining loyal to him in the face of an attempted coup d’etat staged by opposition leader Juan Guaido.

Soldiers loyal to Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro trained fighters from the “most dangerous guerrilla force” in South America to use heat-seeking anti-aircraft missiles, Bloomberg reported, citing Colombian General Luis Navarro.

READ MORE: Pompeo Claims Any US Action in Venezuela, Including Military, to Be 'Lawful'

According to him, soldiers of the Colombian National Liberation Army (ELN) were trained to launch a Russia-made surface-to-air missile system.

A military member aims a weapon near the Generalisimo Francisco de Miranda Airbase La Carlota, in Caracas, Venezuela April 30, 2019 - Sputnik International
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The media outlet wrote that Colombia’s intelligence service is not aware whether the ELN has obtained its own missile launchers, or whether the training was organised by a faction in Venezuela’s military or authorised at the highest levels in Caracas.

Navarro was quoted as claiming that the ELN was trained secretly rather than at Venezuelan army bases, while Bloomberg alleged that the “guerrilla force” has long used the Latin American country as a refuge.

“These are weapons used by the Venezuelan armed forces. We have the clear evidence and the necessary intelligence to affirm that the ELN is considered as part of the defence of the revolution of the Maduro regime”, Bloomberg cited him as saying.

The Maduro government has yet to comment on these reports.

READ MORE: Trump ‘Asking Questions on Reliability’ of US Intel on Venezuela – Report

Earlier in the day, Venezuelan Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza accused the CIA of working with the country’s opposition to oust Maduro and get hold of the country’s natural resources. He also told reporters that Caracas would retaliate if the US opts for military action to oust the legitimately elected president.

Opposition leader and self-proclaimed interim president Juan Guaido speaks to supporters during a rally to protest outages that left most of the country scrambling for days in the dark in Caracas, Venezuela, Saturday, April 6, 2019 - Sputnik International
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Juan Guaido, Venezuela’s self-proclaimed interim president, admitted over the weekend that his attempted coup against Maduro had failed, although claimed that “it is clearly visible that the armed forces no longer support” the embattled head of state.

Maduro has on a multitude of occasions reassured the people of Venezuela that the country’s armed forces remain loyal to him despite Guaido’s calls to join his so-called Operation Freedom.

Venezuela plunged into chaos in January after Guaido declared himself interim president in defiance of Maduro, who was sworn in for a second term on 10 January.

The opposition leader’s move was instantly recognised by the United States, a handful of regional countries, and, subsequently, dozens of nations around the world.

READ MORE: Venezuela Pins Responsibility for Any Breach of Peace on Trump — Caracas

Maduro, who is recognised as Venezuela’s only legitimate president by numerous countries, including Russia, Iran, Turkey, and China, has blasted Guaido as a US “puppet” and denounced the entire situation as a coup attempt organised by Washington.

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