CARACAS — Venezuela rejected the presence of foreign troops on its territory after what the United States described as a “large scale strike” on the country, Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino said early Saturday.

“Free, independent, and sovereign Venezuela rejects with all the strength of its history the presence of these foreign troops, which have only brought death, pain and destruction in their wake,” Padrino said in a video message.

His remarks followed a statement by US President Donald Trump, who said the United States had “successfully” carried out a large-scale strike against Venezuela and claimed that President Nicolas Maduro and his wife had been “captured and flown out of the country.”

Padrino said Venezuelan authorities were gathering information regarding those injured and killed.

“In the face of this vile and cowardly attack that threatens the peace and stability of the region, we raise the strongest denunciation before the international community and all multilateral organizations to condemn the US government for the blatant violation of the UN Charter and international law,” he said. — Agencies