Guyana Defense Force troops attacked near Venezuela border

The Guyana Defense Force (GDF) reported on Thursday that its soldiers came under fire from armed men in civilian clothing positioned on the Venezuelan side of the Cuyuni River, as tensions mount ahead of Venezuela’s controversial May 25 election in the disputed Essequibo region.

According to a GDF statement, the attacks occurred during three separate incidents over a 24-hour period along the river stretch between Eteringbang and Makapa. The gunmen, who remain unidentified, launched their assaults from the Venezuelan shore during routine patrols carried out by Guyanese forces.

“In each instance, the Guyana Defence Force executed a measured response, and no rank sustained any injuries,” the GDF noted.

The military reaffirmed its commitment to defending Guyana’s territorial sovereignty and ensuring the safety of its citizens, emphasizing that regular patrols will continue along the border.

The GDF “remains resolute in its mission,” the statement continued, pledging to “continue to respond to acts of aggression” and to take “all necessary measures to safeguard the nation’s borders and maintain peace and security.”