Five Venezuelan opposition members 'rescued' from Caracas, US says

Five Venezuelan political figures holed up at the Argentinian Embassy in Caracas to avoid arrest have been brought to the US after a "successful rescue" mission, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said.

"The US welcomes the successful rescue of all hostages held by the Maduro regime at the Argentinian Embassy in Caracas," Rubio wrote in a post on X. "Following a precise operation, all hostages are now safely on US soil."

Venezuelan forces had surrounded the embassy since last year, where the five politicians opposed to President Nicolás Maduro had been taking refuge.

Venezuela's opposition leader Maria Corina Machado said she was thankful "to all those who made it possible".

Machado hailed their escape as "an impeccable and epic operation for the freedom of five heroes".

They were given permission to stay there by the government of Argentine President Javier Milei, whose country is among several that have disputed the results of Venezuela's last election in July that gave Maduro a third term.

The Argentine foreign ministry thanked Rubio and the US government "for the successful operation that secured the freedom of the Venezuelan asylum seekers at our Embassy in Caracas".

Last year, the opposition figures posted images and videos of officers from the country's intelligence service surrounding the embassy complex, saying they were under "siege".

They also accused the Venezuelan government of cutting electricity and water services to the compound.

The Venezuelan government said at the time that it had been forced to take action after it supposedly uncovered evidence of "terrorist activities and assassination attempts" against Maduro and his deputy.

In November, the US called the security operations outside the embassy a serious violation of international law.

"We demand that the Venezuelan regime respect its international obligations, cease these intimidating actions and guarantee safe passage for asylum seekers," the US embassy in Venezuela said at the time.

Rubio did not confirm the names of those who were rescued, but the five opposition members who had been sheltering at the Argentine embassy are Magalli Meda, Pedro Urruchurtu, Omar Gonzalez, Humberto Villalobos and Claudia Macero.

It is unclear how the five managed to leave the compound, and what role the US played in their escape.

The embassy they sheltered in had been represented and guarded by Brazil since diplomatic relations between Argentina and Venezuela broke down last summer due to the outcome of Venezuela's presidential election.

But in September, the Venezuelan government revoked Brazil's custody of the embassy in an apparent attempt to remove its diplomatic protection.