Venezuela's Minister of Defense denounces the complicity of the Colombian government with irregular armed groups. | Photo: Twitter: FANB

Caracas, April 2 (RHC)-- Venezuela continues its fight against irregular armed groups on the border with Colombia, which have claimed the lives of two soldiers of the Bolivarian National Armed Forces, according to the military High Command.

A statement signed by the Venezuelan Minister of Defense, General in Chief Vladimir Padrino López, reports the continuation of Operation "Bolivarian Shield 2021," which is being carried out in the area of Apure state, bordering Colombia -- fighting irregular armed groups operating on the other side of the demarcation line.

Padrino López gave the balance of the armed confrontation, reporting "a total of nine terrorists neutralized, 31 detainees placed under arrest and detained, six explosive devices deactivated in different roads in the area, nine camps destroyed, including one used for the processing of cocaine paste, and new seizures of weapons, night vision devices, communication and computers equipment, as well as chemical precursors (urea)."

Padrino also informed about the fall in combat of two Venezuelan soldiers, "as a result of the detonation of a mine activated by the groups against a patrol that was operating" in the area of Apure State, as well as the wounding of nine other soldiers.

The soldiers who gave their lives were First Sergeant Andriel Istúriz Sojo, belonging to the 8th Brigade of Sea Commandos; and Second Sergeant Jesús Alexander Vásquez Pérez, belonging to the 931st Reinforced Infantry Battalion "Santiago Mariño."

The communiqué also points out the "acquiescence of the Colombian government" in the actions of other irregular groups which, it denounces, "intended to illegally occupy areas of Venezuelan geographic territory to develop their criminal activities."