Venezuela’s acting president says US attack had 'Zionist undertones'

Venezuela's acting president has said the US seizure of Nicolas Maduro had "Zionist undertones".

Speaking in a televised address on Saturday, Delcy Rodriguez said: "Governments around the world are shocked that the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela has become the victim and target of an attack of this nature, which undoubtedly has Zionist undertones."

She added: "The extremists who have promoted armed aggression against our country - history and justice will make them pay."

US special forces seized Venezuela's now-ousted President Nicolas Maduro from the capital, Caracas, early on Saturday, as American fighter jets bombed key military installations and bases across the country.

Rodriguez, who served as Maduro's vice-president, has been decreed by the Supreme Court to lead the country on an interim basis.

It was not immediately clear what Rodriguez meant by her comments on Saturday, though Venezuela and Israel have long had strained relations.

In November, Maduro claimed that "Zionists" were attempting to deliver his country to "devils".

"There are those who want to hand this country over to the devils - you know who, right? The far-right Zionists want to hand this country over to the devils," Maduro said during a speech to Bolivarian Integral Base Committees.

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Following Maduro's seizure by the US, Israel was one of the few countries to welcome the operation, which has been criticised as illegal by officials and politicians around the world. 

"Israel commends the United States' operation, led by President Trump, which acted as the leader of the free world," Israel's foreign minister, Gideon Saar, said on X.

"At this historic moment, Israel stands alongside the freedom-loving Venezuelan people, who have suffered under Maduro's illegal tyranny."

The US assault was strongly condemned by most South American countries, including Brazil, Colombia and Chile, as well as Venezuela's key allies Russia, China and Iran.

Many European countries welcomed Maduro's removal, but some raised questions about the legality of the US operation.

"Spain did not recognise the Maduro regime. But neither will it recognise an intervention that violates international law and pushes the region towards a horizon of uncertainty and belligerence," Spain's prime minister, Pedro Sanchez, said.

US Democratic lawmakers also criticised the attack as "illegal".