With the high tensions of the United States, Vinzuela, Maduro trained civilians on the “unannounced war”

When Edith Piralis was younger, he recruited in the National Bolivarian militia, a civilian force established by the late President Hugo Chavez in 2009 to help defend Venezuela.

“We must be a country capable of defending every other inch of our lands, so no one comes to chaos with us,” Chavez said at that time.

Sixteen years later, Perales, 68, is now joining thousands of other militia members who are preparing for a possible attack in the United States.

The Tag Tag power, which consists mainly of the elderly, was called after the publication of US naval ships in southern Caribbean, according to what US officials said about anti -drug operations.

Read: What do we know about the American strike on the “Venezuela” drug boat, and was it legal?

The American force destroyed at least three boats that he said carried drugs from Venezuela to the United States, killing at least 17 people.

Venezuela Defense Minister Vladimir Badrino said that the American maritime attacks and publishing had a “unparalleled war” by the United States against Venezuela and President Nicolas Maduro called an active service militia.

Praalis got his official uniform and shoes on hand, and ready to defend his “stronghold” – Caracas neighborhood, where he lives.

He lives on 23 De Enero, an area in the capital, which was traditionally strongly for the leftist ideology that the late President Chavez was approved and approved by his chosen successor in his position, Nicholas Maduro.

He says he is a supporter of the loyal government, he says he is “ready to serve whenever they call me.”

“We have to defend the homeland,” he told BBC, echoing the speeches that President Maduro gave in the wake of the strikes on boats.

While experts told the BBC that the deployment of the US Navy in the southern Caribbean is large, they also indicated that it is not large enough to indicate that it is part of a planned invasion.

There is no doubt that the relationship between Venezuela and the United States – which has long been strained – has deteriorated more since Donald Trump’s return to office.

The United States is among a group of nations that did not recognize the re -election of Maduro in July 2024, pointing to the evidence gathered by the Venezuelan opposition with the help of independent observers that showed his rival Edmundo Gonzliz, won elections by the ground blade.

Shortly after reaching his post for the second time, Trump announced that the Venezuelan criminal gang, Treen de Aragoa, a terrorist group, used as a justification for the deportation of Venezuelan immigrants from the United States and to obtain the last military action in the Caribbean.

The Trump Maduro administration also accused it of league with drug gangs and recently set the reward it provided for information that leads to the seizure of $ 50 million (37.3 million pounds).

Maduro strongly rejected Washington’s accusations and defended his government’s actions against drug trafficking.

But the Maduro government also cooperated with the Trump administration by restoring Venezuelan immigrants deported from the United States, who were accused by US officials of gang members.

After the first boat strike, Maduro sent a message to his American counterpart calling for a meeting – an approach that was rejected by the White House.

But his speech internally remained combat.

Maduro ordered the Venezuelan Army – the National Bolivarian Armed Forces (FANB) – to train local militias, such as those to which Edith Piralis belongs.

These groups are mostly consisting of volunteers of poor societies, although public sector workers have also reported pressure on them.

In the past, the militia was mainly used to enhance numbers in political gatherings and marches.

Its members tend to be older than those who join “Colectivos”-gangs of militant government supporters who were accused of human rights violations that are often used to dismantle anti-government protests.

But it seems tense in the face of what it considers an American threat, the Maduro government is now training militias.

Saturday afternoon, the soldiers passed in the Petare neighborhood in Karacas to achieve Maduro’s order that “the barracks come to people.”

The task of soldiers in teaching the local population is how to deal with weapons to respond to the “enemy”.

Training scenario includes tanks and Russian rifles – unbearable – and instruction stickers.

The soldier gives instructions to a small group on a loud loudspeaker.

“The important thing is to identify weapons; we aim for the goal and hit.”

Everyone in the neighborhood, including women and children, listens.

Most volunteers who participate in the training exercise do not have experience in armed fighting, but what they lack the experience that they compensate for in enthusiasm.

“If I have to put my life in the battle, I will do that,” says Francisco Oujida, a local population, says BBC News Mondo.

The 69-year-old throws himself on the baked sunflower and holds a combat position as he puts the AK-103 rifle. A soldier corrects its shape.

He says, “Even cats will go out here to shoot, to defend our homeland.”

His passion for Rodriguez, a 67 -year -old woman who recently joined the militia. “We will not allow any American government to attend and invade,” she insists.

Yarelis Jaies, 38, is more frequency. “This is the first time that I pick up such a weapon,” she says. “I feel a little tension, but I know I can do it.”

But while Petare’s residents learn to deal with Venice, outside the Maduro strongholds, life continues as usual, with a little thinking about the possibility of invasion.

Even just a few meters away from the place where Francisco Oujida was taking a location on the dusty street, the residents are following their unjust daily routine. Street sellers display their merchandise, while other people are at the weekend without looking at militia members who are exercising.

Penino Alaron, political analyst at Andres Bello Catholic University, says that Maduro’s militia’s plan does not have to participate in the battle but rather a “human shield.”

Professor Alacón argues that by calling civilians, the Maduro government wants to increase the human cost that will be borne by any potential American military action by making the possibility of human losses much higher.

According to Professor Alacón, it does not matter if the militia is not well trained or even if it is unarmed.

Maduro claimed that more than 8.2 million civilians were recruited in the militia and in reserves, but this number was widely interrogated.

Perales, who was in the militia for decades, believes that his role is a “defender” in his street, the neighborhood in which he lives, what he knows.

While participating in previous training exercises, he chose more than more operations, because of his age and health.

But the conflict was its occurrence, he says he is ready: “We must defend the region. Wearing an uniform really means responsibility.”