Venezuela: a murdered general and 11 dead officers – ElSol.com.ar – Diario de Mendoza, Argentina

General of the Bolivarian National Armed Forces (FANB) and 11 other soldiers They were killed in an ambush by criminal gangs and in a helicopter crash. Both events occur amidst the crisis in the army after the failure of the 30-M rebellion.

The most serious event occurred in a mountainous region of La Guacamaya, in the central state of Aragua. A military and police operation consisting of 25 people in uniform was surprised by members of the dreaded El Tren group in Aragua, which operates in several states of the country and even carried out kidnappings and bank robberies in Peru. Brigadier General Jackson Silva of the Air Force, who was also director of the Professional Troops Training School, was at the head of the command.

Silva, two sergeants and a corporal were shot dead by the "malandros" (criminals), who had long arms. Two Aragua police officers and four other people, including officers and soldiers, were hospitalized during the attack.

The presence of a brigadier general in a protection operation of Hacienda Arenales surprised the military experts. "This is another example of the deterioration and lack of control within the armed forces," explained anonymous sources to this newspaper. The images broadcast on social networks demonstrate the violence of confrontation.

Almost at the same time, a military helicopter rushed to the ground in the area of ​​El Volcán, El Hatillo municipality in Caracas. The aircraft, with seven soldiers inside, went to the march of loyalty led by Nicolás Maduro a few hours later in the state of Cojedes. The dead are two lieutenant-colonels, two commanders and three captains, according to the FANB in ​​a statement.

The incident occurred only nine days after the crash of another helicopter in the parking lot of the Maracaibo Arena. Inside was another general, Alfonso Torres, who also died, as well as Police Commissioner Luis Urdaneta. The first was the head of the Bolivarian National Guard (GNB) in the oil state of Zulia, bordering Colombia, the military body that directs the crackdown on protests. General Dilio Rodríguez, commander of the Zulia integral defense zone, was among the survivors.

Of the 16 Super Puma and Cougar helicopters acquired by the FANB in ​​the last century, six have already broken down, according to data provided by Rocío San Miguel, President of the Citizen Control for the Armed Forces and Security.

"We continue to lose military lives in tragic situations, as well as our deepest condolences to the families of the deceased officers and officers, we accompany them at this time and hope that the facts will be clarified very soon," said the Juan Guaidó opposition leader on his social networks. .

Military lives are still lost in tragic situations. Our deepest condolences to the parents of the officials and officers who died yesterday. We accompany them at this time and hope that the facts will be clarified very soon.

– Juan Guaidó (@jguaido) May 5, 2019