The head of Defense of Venezuela, Vladimir Padrino López, assured, in a video released this Sunday, that the Bolivarian National Armed Forces (FANB) does not break down with sanctions or with reward “blackmail”, after the United States offered 15 million dollars for information that leads to his capture.
“We do not break down with sanctions or reward blackmail, here the brave are in formation (…) with weapons to, according to our Constitution, defend our territory, our independence, our territorial integrity and our national sovereignty,” said the head of Defense of Venezuela.
Padrino López, in office since 2014, made a call to “not fall into the game of psychological war” or “that plan”, as well as to “stand firm” and defend, “serene and bravely”, the people.
He assured that today the Armed Forces are “much more united” and “aware of the historical moment that the homeland is living,” and thanked the “solidarity” of the military institution with him and the leader of Chavismo, Nicolás Maduro, for whose capture the US increased the reward from 15 to 25 million dollars, after his swearing-in for a third term in a row.
On Saturday, the FANB said that a “spurious reward will not make a dent in the physical and spiritual strength” of both, and that this “aggression only further strengthens cohesion and absolute union in the demand for respect” to its “leaders and hierarchical superiors”.
Advertisement
20250701_dengue_728x90
20250715_donacion_sangre_central_728x90
20250701_vacunacion-influenza-728x90
20250701_vacunacion_vph-728x90
20250501_mh_noexigencia_dui_728x90
20231124_etesal_728x90_1
20230601_agenda_primera_infancia_728X90
domfuturo_netview-728x90
20240604_dom_728x90
CEL
The US also offers a reward of 25 million dollars for information that leads to the capture of the head of the Interior and Justice, Diosdado Cabello.
In addition, the FF.AA. expressed its “most energetic and categorical rejection” of the sanctions of the United States, the European Union (EU) and the United Kingdom announced on Friday, when Maduro was sworn in as president for the period 2025-2031, a fact that the largest anti-Chavista coalition, which claims the electoral victory of Edmundo González Urrutia, denounced as the consummation of a “coup d’état”.
The opposition leader, who claims to be “very close to Venezuela” and “ready for safe entry,” said on Friday that, as “commander-in-chief” and “president-elect,” he orders “the high military command to ignore illegal orders given to them by those who confiscate power” and to prepare “their security conditions to assume office.”
Erin brings strong winds and storm surge despite weakening offshore
Hurricane Erin weakened to a Category 2 storm on Tuesday but continues to pose a threat to parts of the U.S. East Coast with potentially dangerous flooding, according to meteorologists.
Although the hurricane’s eye is expected to remain offshore, experts are concerned about Erin’s size, as strong winds extend hundreds of kilometers beyond the storm’s center.
In its 18:00 GMT bulletin, the U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC) lifted tropical storm warnings for the Bahamasand Turks and Caicos Islands, but kept them in effect for parts of North Carolina.
Erin was located several hundred kilometers southeast of North Carolina and was moving northwestward.
“This means there is a risk of potentially life-threatening flooding of 60 to 120 centimeters above ground level,” said NHC Director Michael Brennan.
Advertisement
20250701_dengue_728x90
20250715_donacion_sangre_central_728x90
20250701_vacunacion-influenza-728x90
20250701_vacunacion_vph-728x90
20250501_mh_noexigencia_dui_728x90
20231124_etesal_728x90_1
20230601_agenda_primera_infancia_728X90
domfuturo_netview-728x90
20240604_dom_728x90
CEL
He also warned of the possibility of destructive waves, combined with storm surge, that could cause severe damage to beaches and coastal areas, making roads impassable.
Three U.S. Warships deploy near Venezuela to combat drug trafficking
Three U.S. naval vessels are moving toward the coasts of Venezuela, according to international media reports on Tuesday, after White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt confirmed that President Donald Trump is ready to combat and curb international drug trafficking.
Reports indicate that the ships will reach Venezuelan waters within the next 36 hours as part of a recent U.S. deployment aimed at countering international narcotics operations.
The announcement coincides with Leavitt’s statement that Trump is prepared to “use the full extent of his power” to halt drug flows into the United States. The naval deployment involves approximately 4,000 military personnel.
“The President has been clear and consistent. He is ready to use every element of U.S. power to prevent drugs from flooding our country and to bring those responsible to justice. The Maduro regime is not the legitimate government of Venezuela—it is a narco-terror cartel,” the spokesperson said during a press conference.
Cuban authorities free salvadoran convicted in 1997 hotel bombing
Salvadoran national Otto René Rodríguez Llerena was released after serving a 30-year prison sentence for his involvement in a terrorist attack at a hotel in Cuba in 1997, the Cuban Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported.
During his trial, Rodríguez Llerena admitted to placing an explosive device at the Meliá Cohiba Hotel under the orders of anti-Castro exile leaders. He was arrested the following year when he returned to Havana with another load of explosives that failed to detonate.
“The Cuban government reiterates its commitment to combating terrorism, respecting human rights, and the need for the international community to hold accountable those who promote such acts,” the statement read.
He was released on August 15 and is the second Salvadoran to complete his sentence. In December of last year, another Salvadoran, Ernesto Cruz León, was released after planting bombs at tourist centers, one of which killed an Italian tourist identified as Fabio Di Celmo.
A third Salvadoran, Francisco Chávez Abarca, also received a 30-year sentence from Cuban courts in 2010 after being extradited from Venezuela through Interpol for actions against Cuba.
Advertisement
20250701_dengue_728x90
20250715_donacion_sangre_central_728x90
20250701_vacunacion-influenza-728x90
20250701_vacunacion_vph-728x90
20250501_mh_noexigencia_dui_728x90
20231124_etesal_728x90_1
20230601_agenda_primera_infancia_728X90
domfuturo_netview-728x90
20240604_dom_728x90
CEL
Rodríguez Llerena had requested conditional release in 2016, arguing that his actions had not caused any direct fatalities, but no further information was released about his situation until now.
