With anti-U.S. militias active in Venezuela, the U.S. government advised its citizens to leave the country immediately.
On the 10th (local time), the U.S. Embassy in Venezuela announced on its website, "As international flights have resumed, U.S. citizens in Venezuela must depart immediately."
The embassy warned, "There have been reports that the armed militia 'Colectivo' is setting up checkpoints and searching vehicles to single out U.S. citizens and U.S. supporters," adding, "Do not lower your guard when using roads and exercise extreme caution."
Colectivo is a pro-government armed militia known to be controlled by Venezuela's interior minister, Diosdado Cabello, a close confidant of the Nicolás Maduro regime.
According to local journalists and activists, in and around the Venezuelan capital, Caracas, Colectivo members carrying rifles are riding motorcycles or setting up checkpoints on the outskirts of the city.
Dozens of military and police checkpoints have been set up so far, according to tallies.
However, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Venezuela dismissed the alert, saying it was "based on fabricated information to create a perception of a nonexistent risk," adding, "Venezuela is perfectly calm and stable."
Earlier, on the 3rd, after the United States carried out a large-scale military operation in Venezuela and arrested President Maduro and the first lady at a safe house in Caracas, the country was thrown into chaos.
Acting President Delcy Rodríguez, who was sworn in, said, "We feel deep pain over the abduction of two heroes held hostage by the United States, President Maduro and first lady Cilia Flores," adding, "In Venezuela, the president is Maduro, only one."