Operation Gideon (2020)

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Operation Gideon
Part of the Crisis in Venezuela and the Venezuelan presidential crisis

Top to bottom:
Venezuelan authorities intercepting a boat; Venezuelan soldiers patrolling the coast; Mercenaries being arrested by the Bolivarian Intelligence Service (SEBIN)
Date3–4 May 2020
Location
Coast of La Guaira, Venezuela
Result

Primary objective failed

  • Government starts Bolivarian Shield military exercises in response to the attack.
Belligerents

 Venezuela

Silvercorp USA

  • Venezuelan dissidents
Commanders and leaders

Nicolás Maduro

Jordan Goudreau

Strength
25,000[1] 300[2]
Casualties and losses
Unknown
  • 8 killed[3]
  • 8[4]-13[5] captured
  • Unknown missing off coast
Crisis in Venezuela
Causes
Effects
Events
Elections
Protests
Timeline
Armed violence
flag Venezuela portal

The La Guaira naval attack, also called Operation Gideon (Spanish: Operación Gedeón), was an attempt by armed Venezuelan dissident groups and a private US-based security force to infiltrate Venezuela at the coastal state of La Guaira, launched from Colombia. The groups planned to train Venezuelans to overthrow the government of Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro.

Background

File:Jordan Goudreau.png
Jordan Goudreau

Former United States Army Special Forces operative Jordan Goudreau had allegedly met with Venezuelan opposition officials aligned with disputed interim president Juan Guaidó, with Guaidó eventually turning down proposals promoted by Goudreau.[2] The Colombian government had also reportedly condemned actions performed by Goudreau's forces and refused to aid his cause.[2] Goudreau had worked security at Venezuela Aid Live in February 2019, turning his attention to the area at this point.[6]

Venezuelan Major General Clíver Alcalá Cordones approached Goudreau, stating that he had gathered 300 Venezuelan troops who had defected into Colombia. Alcalá's troops were stationed in the La Guajira Peninsula. According to the Associated Press (AP), Goudreau and Alcalá distanced themselves from the Venezuelan opposition due to "closed-door deal making with the [Maduro] regime".[2]

Former United States Navy SEAL operative Ephraim Mattos met with Alcalá's troops while working in Colombia and was presented with a document created by Goudreau on 16 June 2019, listing operations equipment: "320 M4 assault rifles, an anti-tank rocket launcher, Zodiac boats, US$1 million in cash and state-of-the-art night vision goggles."[2]

The AP published an article about Goudreau, his plan and its history, and his training camps on 1 May 2020, writing that the plans to attack Venezuela were "far-fetched" and that people who knew him believed he was "in way over his head".[7] Bellingcat suggested that the Venezuelan government may have known of the plan since late March 2020, but certainly knew by 1 May.[7] Maduro confirmed that they knew all of the plan by the evening of 1 May, and that it had been initially planned for 10 March, but postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[8] By the time of the attack, many of the mercenary soldiers had abandoned their camps, following the arrest of Alcalá, investigations by Colombian authorities, and the growing pandemic.[2]

Alcalá incident

On 26 March 2020, Alcalá assumed responsibility for "a military operation against the Maduro dictatorship", including a shipment of weapons captured in Colombia, stating that the United States, Colombia and Guaidó officials had signed an agreement to support their efforts to overthrow President Maduro.[9] Guaidó denied knowledge of the event while United States Special Representative to Venezuela Elliott Abrams described Alcalá's statement as "despicable and quite dangerous".[9] Alcalá was subsequently extradited to the United States for unrelated drug trafficking charges as part of the Maduro government.[10] Abrams later said that Alcalá "was put up to making those terrible charges by the [Maduro] regime".[9]

RCGS Resolute and Naiguatá collision

Venezuelan Coast Guard patrol boat Naiguatá (GC-23), which sank in March 2020 following a collision with RCGS Resolute.

On 30 March 2020, a cruise ship RCGS Resolute was involved in an incident off the Venezuelan coast which led to the sinking of the Venezuelan Coast Guard patrol boat Naiguatá (GC-23) following a collision.[11] In a statement released by Venezuela on 31 March, RCGS Resolute was accused of committing an act of "aggression and piracy" by intentionally ramming and sinking Naiguatá while the patrol boat was conducting a maritime traffic control operation, as well as of acting "cowardly and criminal" for not participating in the search and rescue of the patrol boat's crew of 44, all of which were rescued by other Venezuelan vessels.[11][12] Video footage later released by the Venezuelan Navy first show a Naiguatá crewman firing warning shots with an AK-47 assault rifle, followed by the patrol boat taking water following a collision with RCGS Resolute's visibly damaged bow.[13] Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro accused the captain of the cruise ship of "piracy" and "terrorism,"[14] adding later that he did not rule out that RCGS Resolute was "carrying mercenaries to attack onshore military bases."[15][16] The Venezuelan minister of defence said RCGS Resolute's action was an act of "imperial aggression."[17]

Attack

On 3 May 2020, a group of armed mercenaries arrived by boat to Macuto,[6] near La Guaira, a port city just north of Venezuelan capital Caracas.[18] The boats had been launched from Colombia at 5 p.m. the day before, in two waves.[7] According to Venezuelan state intelligence, the first boat (that arrived at Macuto) was smaller and faster, while the second boat was to arrive at Chuao before it was intercepted by the Navy.[8] The Venezuelan military reported that the mercenaries had "war materials" on their boats.[18] According to photos released by the Venezuelan government, a helicopter was involved.[4] The naval attack force was composed of 60 soldiers,[18] including two former United States Army Special Forces members.[19][20]

An initial fight in the early morning of 3 May involved the first boat, and was fought against the Venezuelan Navy. Goudreau said that the second boat was running low on fuel after this, but that safe houses were available for soldiers if they landed and refueling boats were sent from Aruba to help the incursion force. In the initial fight, eight soldiers were arrested on the shore. Another eight had been killed on the beach.[3] Videos of the fight, including gunshots, were shared on social media; the Venezuelan government first acknowledged the attack at 7:30 a.m., in an announcement from Interior Minister Néstor Reverol.[7] Venezuelan Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino López later said that one of the militant boats had been sunk by the Navy, and the country's military sent ships to look for survivors.[21] One of the killed men was Robert "Pantera" Colina.[8]

Goudreau and former Venezuelan National Guard officer Javier Nieto Quintero released a video in the afternoon claiming responsibility, calling the attack 'Operation Gideon' and explaining that they intended to launch an army into Venezuela to overthrow Maduro; Goudreau said that as well as the naval attack, his forces had entered Venezuela by land and were still operating. Speaking on national television that day, Reverol said that the Venezuelan military's defensive operation was ongoing, and would be for several days.[18]

The next day, Maduro said Venezuelan forces had detained 13 soldiers, including two Americans working with Goudreau;[5] these were named as Airan Berry and Luke Denman.[19][20] Goudreau said that eight of his soldiers had been captured on 4 May, the two Americans and six Venezuelans, and that an unknown number had been captured on 3 May.[4] On 5 May it was reported that "dozens" of mercenaries had been captured.[3] Seized items from the mercenaries include weapons, Peruvian documents, and uniforms emblazoned with an American flag.[19][20] Venezuelan prosecutor general Tarek William Saab later announced that a total of 114 people suspected to be involved had been arrested within Venezuela, and that 25,000 national troops were mobilized to hunt down more[22] in a Venezuelan military mission named "Bolivarian Shield" (Spanish: Escudo Bolivariano).[8]

The United States and Colombian governments have been accused by Venezuela of masterminding the attack, which both deny; there has also been no comment on involvement of US citizens from the U.S. State Department.[22]

See also

References

  1. ^ Smith, Scott; Goodman, Joshua (4 May 2020). "Venezuela: 2 Americans among those nabbed after beach raid". The Washington Post. Retrieved 5 May 2020.
  2. ^ a b c d e f "Ex-Green Beret led failed attempt to oust Venezuela's Maduro". Associated Press. 1 May 2020. Retrieved 5 May 2020.
  3. ^ a b c "Venezuela's Maduro: Americans captured in failed coup plot". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 5 May 2020.
  4. ^ a b c Dominguez, Claudia. "Venezuela claims to have captured two Americans involved in failed invasion". CNN. Retrieved 5 May 2020.
  5. ^ a b Venezuela detains two Americans allegedly involved in failed raid to remove Maduro
  6. ^ a b "Venezuela holds two US citizens over 'coup bid'". BBC News. 5 May 2020. Retrieved 5 May 2020.
  7. ^ a b c d "The Invasion of Venezuela, Brought To You By Silvercorp USA". bellingcat. 5 May 2020. Retrieved 5 May 2020.
  8. ^ a b c d ""Lo sabíamos todo", dice Maduro sobre incursión en Macuto". Efecto Cocuyo. 5 May 2020. Retrieved 5 May 2020.
  9. ^ a b c Long, Gideon (4 April 2020). "Mystery surrounds foiled 'plot' to liberate Venezuela". Financial Times. Retrieved 5 May 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  10. ^ "Cliver Alcalá se entregó a la DEA y fue extraditado a EEUU: Reuters - Noticiero Digital". Noticiero Digital. 27 March 2020.
  11. ^ a b "Venezuela navy vessel sinks after 'ramming cruise ship'". BBC News. 3 April 2020. Retrieved 6 April 2020.
  12. ^ "Comunicado Oficial de la Fuerza Armada Nacional Bolivariana" (in Spanish). Ministry of Defense. 31 March 2020. Retrieved 6 April 2020.
  13. ^ "Video Emerges Of Venezuelan Navy Ship Firing On And Colliding With Cruise Ship Before Sinking". The Drive. 4 April 2020. Retrieved 6 April 2020.
  14. ^ Badcock, James (2 April 2020). "Venezuelan naval vessel goes down after confrontation with Portuguese cruise ship". The Telegraph – via www.telegraph.co.uk.
  15. ^ "Venezuelan President: Ship that is docked in Curaçao carries mercenaries to attack Venezuela". www.curacaochronicle.com.
  16. ^ "Venezolaans marineschip naar de kelder na rammen pool-cruiseschip". Nieuwsblad Transport.
  17. ^ Trevithick, Joseph. "This Venezuelan Patrol Ship Sunk Itself After Ramming A Cruise Liner With A Reinforced Hull". The Drive.
  18. ^ a b c d "Venezuela attack: Former US special forces soldier says he led botched plot to overthrow President Maduro". Sky News. Retrieved 5 May 2020.
  19. ^ a b c Venezuelan government says it stopped ‘invasion’ launched from Colombia The Washington Post
  20. ^ a b c Boat attack on Venezuela port foiled The Canberra Times
  21. ^ "Venezuela accuses Colombia of sea invasion". BBC News. 3 May 2020. Retrieved 5 May 2020.
  22. ^ a b "Venezuela: Two US citizens held after failed coup attempt are named". Sky News. Retrieved 5 May 2020.

External links

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