WHITE HOUSE TO BRIEF CONGRESSMEN ON VENEZUELA STANCE AT CLOSED MEETING ON MONDAY - REPORTS

MOSCOW, Jan. 5 (Bernama-Sputnik/RIA Novosti) -- The Trump administration will brief a group of members of Congress from both parties on the US government's position on Venezuela at a closed-door classified meeting on Monday, Sputnik/RIA Novosti reported.

According to CNN, citing a source familiar with the matter, attendees are expected to include members of the Senate and House Foreign Affairs and Armed Services Committees.

The briefing is expected to take place at 5:30 p.m. (22:30 GMT). Speakers are expected to include Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Attorney General Pam Bondi, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Dan Caine.

Earlier, US House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries rejected the Trump administration's claims that their actions in Venezuela were a law enforcement operation, calling them an act of war that required congressional approval.

On January 3, the United States launched a massive attack on Venezuela, capturing President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, and taking them to New York. US President Donald Trump announced that Maduro and Flores would face trial for allegedly being involved in "narco-terrorism" and posing a threat, including to the United States.

Caracas requested an urgent UN meeting in response to the US operation, and the Venezuelan Supreme Court temporarily assigned Vice President Delcy Rodriguez the duties of head of state.

The Russian Foreign Ministry expressed solidarity with the Venezuelan people, called for the release of Maduro and his wife, as well as for the prevention of further escalation of the situation. Beijing, following Moscow, called for the immediate release of Maduro and his wife, emphasising that US actions violate international law.

--BERNAMA-SPUTNIK