Trump reveals US helicopter pilots were wounded in Maduro raid

FORT BRAGG, N.C. — President Donald Trump on Friday for the primary time publicly revealed the character of the accidents suffered by U.S. personnel within the daring raid to grab Venezuelan chief Nicolás Maduro and his spouse from their Caracas dwelling.

Operation Absolute Resolve — which concerned greater than 200 forces and 150 plane — left American helicopter pilots wounded “fairly dangerous within the legs,” Trump stated throughout an handle to troops at Fort Bragg, a serious Military set up in North Carolina.

Trump defined that the pilots landed on a “couple of machine gunners” who made it by a “thicket of bombs,” earlier than including: “however they had been taken out quickly by our snipers who had been stationed on platforms.”

Throughout his remarks, Trump informed the service members that “no different nation has the extraordinary warriors that now we have.”

“Together with your assist,” the commander in chief famous, “America is profitable once more, America is revered once more, and maybe most significantly, we’re feared by the enemies all around the globe.”

Troops erupted in applause when first woman Melania Trump took the rostrum to supply temporary remarks. “To our nice armed forces of america stationed all around the world, I’ve a nostalgia-filled message,” she stated with a smile. “Completely happy Valentine’s Day.”

The bottom is dwelling to the XVIII Airborne Corps and the Military’s Particular Operations command.

After their speeches, the president and first woman privately met with the members of the Delta Drive group who performed the mission, a White Home official informed Army Instances.

Trump, talking to reporters earlier than boarding Air Drive One en path to Mar-a-Lago, stated one of many troopers who helped seize Maduro will obtain the Medal of Honor. He didn’t determine the service member.

“These are nice warriors. These are nice patriots,” he concluded.