CARACAS, Venezuela, Aug. 20 (UPI) — The President of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro announced the closure of a western border crossing with Colombia in response to an attack on three soldiers.
Maduro announced Wednesday the border crossing in Venezuela’s western Táchira state will remain closed for at least 72 hours. He said he closed the border after three soldiers were attacked Wednesday by gunmen while performing an anti-smuggling operation in Táchira’s town of San Antonio.
“I want to express my rejection, pain, by this attack. This ambush that occurred against three young lieutenants, soldiers of our homeland,” Maduro said in a televised address. ” I have been following the events in detail and it truly is indignant and painful.”
One of the soldiers is in critical condition after suffering a gunshot wound to the torso. The assailants have not been identified.
“It’s outrageous… everyone should show solidarity with the armed forces; the military personnel who are at the border to defend the homeland,” Maduro added. “Enough of paramilitary terrorism. It’s time for justice for Táchira.”
Governor of Táchira José G. Vielma Mora visited one of the injured soldiers in the hospital, identified currently as Núñez.
A video of a short interaction between the governor and the injured soldier is seen below:
Vamos Núñez, hijo, Dios y la Santísima Virgen te bendigan. Vas a estar muy bien. ¡Gracias por defender la Patria! pic.twitter.com/8BDtJ3e9OI— José G. Vielma Mora (@VielmaEsTachira) August 20, 2015
“Forward Núñez, son, God and the Blessed Virgin bless you. You’ll be very well. Thanks for defending the homeland!” Vielma Mora wrote with the accompanying video.
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