
Luke Alexander Denman, 34, and Airan Berry, 41, have been charged with "terrorism" and "conspiracy" byVenezuela on Friday. The two soldiers wereamong 17 people captured by the Venezuelan military.
The military claims the group of 17were attempting an invasionto topple President Nicolas Maduroin the early hours of Sunday morning.
Attorney-General Tarek William Saabbriefed the media that the two ex-soldiers could be looking at 25-30 years in prison as hey have been charged withterrorism, conspiracy, illicit trafficking of weapons of war and (criminal) association.
Venezuela has requested an international arrest warrant to capture the mastermind of this force, Jordan Goudreau, who is a former US army medic. It is alleged that hetrained the mercenary force.Eight attackers were reportedly killed in the attempted incursion.
President Maduro had earlier accused his American counterpart Donald Trump to be the direct head of this invasion. To which, Donald Trump had replied, "If I wanted to go into Venezuela I wouldn't make a secret about it. I'd go in and they would do nothing about it. They would roll over. I wouldn't send a small little group. No, no, no. It would be called an army. It would be called an invasion." (as told to Fox News)
The US army confirmed they were former members of the Green Berets,deployed to Iraq.Mike Pompeo,Secretary of State, assured that the US government will use every possible tool to get the soldiers safely back to the States.
Venezuela Attorney General has also accused Juan Guaido, opposition leader, to be behind this inavsion. He has also accused Juanaccused Guaido of signing a US$212 million (S$300 million) contract with "hired mercenaries" using funds seized by the United States from the state oil company PDVSA.
(With inputs from AFP)