On the 5th, the Venezuelan government officially issued a decree requiring police agencies at the national, state, and municipal levels to immediately search and arrest all individuals involved in inciting or supporting US armed attacks across the country, and to hand them over to the judicial system for prosecution.
The decree also stipulates multiple emergency defense measures, such as placing public service infrastructure, the oil industry, and other key national industries under military management; strengthening patrols and security along land, sea, and air borders; and deploying "Integrated Defense Command Posts" across all states and municipalities.
The decree points out that, in view of US military forces carrying out armed attacks on Venezuelan territory and people, seriously violating Venezuela's territorial integrity, sovereignty, and independence, a state of national emergency has been declared throughout the country.
The decree states that, in accordance with Article 51 of the United Nations Charter, Venezuela has the inherent right to self-defense against completely illegal and unjustified armed attacks, and will resolutely exercise this right to repel the US aggression against its territory and people.
This decree was signed by Venezuelan President Maduro before he was forcibly detained by US forces on the 3rd.