GEORGETOWN, Guyana — Reports indicate that six soldiers from Guyana sustained injuries when armed assailants, believed to be from neighboring Venezuela, opened fire in an incident that is likely to escalate existing tensions between the two nations.
Two of the injured soldiers are currently in critical condition following the attack that took place on Monday, as stated by the head of Guyana’s military, Chief of Staff Brig. Gen. Omar Khan. He attributed the attack to suspected gang members operating on the Venezuelan side of the border.
The soldiers were engaged in a resupply operation along the Cuyuni River when they encountered armed individuals positioned along the riverbank in Venezuela. An exchange of gunfire ensued; however, it remains unclear whether the attackers suffered any casualties, according to a report from the Guyana Defense Force.
The military assured the public that they are dedicated to safeguarding the nation’s borders and will implement all necessary actions to counter threats to national security. The injured soldiers have subsequently been airlifted to the capital city of Georgetown for urgent medical care.
On Tuesday, Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yvan Gil issued a statement accusing Guyana’s Foreign Minister Hugh Hilton Tod of disseminating what he characterized as “a false, hostile and malicious narrative” related to the incident involving Guyanese troops.
Gil further claimed that the situation represents a “false-flag operation and fake news,” intended to manipulate public perception and distract from violations of international law.
This attack occurs amidst ongoing disputes between Guyana and Venezuela concerning territorial and maritime borders. Venezuela has long contended that a boundary commission from the 1890s unjustly deprived it of the Essequibo region, a mineral-rich area that constitutes approximately two-thirds of Guyana’s territory, which is also situated near significant offshore oil reserves.
Historically governed by Britain for over a century, the Essequibo region has been under Guyanese control since the nation achieved independence from the United Kingdom in 1966. Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has gone so far as to threaten military action to annex the disputed region.
In late 2023, leaders from both countries convened an emergency summit, where they committed to refraining from using threats or force against one another. Nonetheless, they failed to establish a resolution regarding their ongoing contention over the Essequibo area.
