Global outrage as countries slam US military attack on Venezuela

Several countries have issued strong condemnations over the United States for its attack on Venezuela early Saturday, during which Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife were claimed to have been "captured and flown out of Venezuela."

Venezuela on Saturday denounced the US' "military aggression", after large explosions were heard and aircraft were seen over its capital Caracas earlier in the day.

The Venezuelan government said the military strike targeted civilian and military sites in at least four states, including Caracas, Miranda, Aragua and La Guaira, adding that the US' action blatantly violated the UN Charter.

In a statement, the Venezuelan government said President Nicolas Maduro had "ordered all national defense plans to be implemented" and declared a "state of external disturbance".

Colombian President Gustavo Petro on Saturday called for an urgent meeting of the Organization of American States and the UN to discuss the attack in Venezuela.

Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel condemned what he described as the "criminal US attack" against Venezuela, demanding an urgent response from the international community.

In a social media post, the president stressed that the region of peace (Latin America) is being brutally assaulted, and labeled the attack as a "state terrorism against the brave Venezuelan people and against Our America."

Expressing its deep concern and condemnation, the Russian Foreign Ministry said that the United States had committed "an act of armed aggression" against Venezuela.

Iran's Foreign Ministry also strongly condemned the military attack, calling it a "flagrant violation" of the country's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

In a statement, the ministry described the attack as an "act of aggression" and a clear breach of the fundamental principles of the United Nations Charter and international law prohibiting the use of force against sovereign states.