At least 40 people were killed in a United States military operation in Venezuela reportedly aimed at abducting President Nicolás Maduro, according to a senior Venezuelan official cited by The New York Times. The casualties included both military personnel and civilians. The report said the US forces launched a large-scale assault to destroy Venezuela’s air defense systems before landing troops on the ground.

US officials were quoted as saying that more than 150 American aircraft were deployed to neutralize Venezuela’s air defenses, allowing military helicopters to safely deploy troops who then attacked Maduro’s position. The operation’s details and the exact number of casualties have not been officially confirmed.

The White House and the Pentagon did not immediately comment when contacted regarding the reported attack or its aftermath.