FILE PHOTO: A military man participates in the exercises of the operation 'Bolivarian Shield 2020' on February 15, 2020 in Caracas, Venezuela.
(Credit: Carolina Cabral / Getty Images)
(CNN Spanish) -
The Ministry of Defense of Venezuela reported this Monday in a statement that on the previous day there were clashes with "Colombian irregular armed groups" in the José Antonio Páez municipality, in the Apure state (bordering Colombia), in those who died two soldiers and several were injured.
He pointed out that, within the framework of the operation called "Bolivarian Shield 2021", one of the alleged leaders of those groups was "neutralized", who was identified with the alias of "El Nando."
The statement does not clarify how it would have been "neutralized."
The Ministry added that some 32 individuals were detained.
They also destroyed six camps and seized weapons, ammunition, explosives, vehicles and drugs.
The statement added that military units continue to carry out operations in the area.
The operations are carried out in compliance with orders from the questioned president of Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro, of "zero tolerance" towards these types of criminal groups.
The Colombian government has not ruled on the incident for the moment.
CNN is trying to contact the Defense Ministry of that country to find out its position.
