Security forces with Venezuela’s socialist government clashed with supporters of opposition leader Juan Guaido on Tuesday as stunning footage showed a military vehicle plowing into a crowd of people.
“In a video broadcast live on telecasts across the world, the armored vehicle can be seen driving over the center of a road, hitting a crowd of demonstrators purportedly throwing rocks at security forces,” Fox News reported. “The dramatic events come after Guaido, alongside detained activist Leopoldo Lopez, called for a military uprising Tuesday morning in his boldest action to oust socialist leader Nicolas Maduro.”
WATCH:
President Donald Trump, Vice President Mike Pence, Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL), and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo both weighed in on the escalating situation in Venezuela.
Trump tweeted: “I am monitoring the situation in Venezuela very closely. The United States stands with the People of Venezuela and their Freedom!”
Pence tweeted: “To @jguaido, the National Assembly and all the freedom-loving people of Venezuela who are taking to the streets today in #operacionlibertad—Estamos con ustedes! We are with you! America will stand with you until freedom & democracy are restored. Vayan con dios! #FreeVenezuela”
Pompeo tweeted: “Today interim President Juan Guaido announced start of Operación Libertad. The U.S. Government fully supports the Venezuelan people in their quest for freedom and democracy. Democracy cannot be defeated. #EstamosUnidosVE”
Rubio tweeted: “The entire world just watched a National Guard armored vehicle ram into a crowd of civilian protestors in #Caracas. How far will leaders of military allow this assault on their own people to go in #Venezuela?
“Guaido urged protesters and members of the military to join what he called the ‘final phase of Operation Liberty’ in a video taken at La Carlota airbase in the capital Caracas while surrounded by heavily-armed soldiers,” The Daily Mail reported. “The troops then set up defensive positions around the base before Maduro’s forces arrived and opened fire with teargas followed by live rounds, according to witnesses.”
“The dramatic events began early Tuesday when Guaido, flanked by a few dozen national guardsmen and some armored crowd control vehicles, released a three-minute video filmed near a Caracas air base in which he called on civilians and others in the armed forces to join a final push to topple Maduro,” The Mail added.