La líder opositora y premio Nobel de la Paz, María Corina Machado, enfatizó este domingo la necesidad de que Venezuela celebre elecciones democráticas cuanto antes.

En entrevista con EFE, Machado alertó que postergar los comicios podría desencadenar un deterioro social irreversible.

“Es importante que Venezuela celebre elecciones democráticas lo antes posible para que los venezolanos no se desesperen y toda la energía se canalice de una manera cívica”, afirmó.

La dirigente subrayó que el país atraviesa un momento crítico y que la falta de una respuesta electoral puede tener consecuencias graves.

“Aquellos que ven un riesgo en el proceso electoral, no están viendo que no hacer elecciones conlleva un riesgo mucho mayor”, señaló.

“Si los venezolanos sienten que lo que está pasando es un tema económico, por la plata, y no por la gente, pueden perder completamente la paciencia”, añadió la dirigente de Vente Venezuela, quien denunció que el descontento social se está acumulando.

Machado, que abandonó Venezuela para recibir el Nobel y ha mantenido presencia internacional en busca de respaldo, anunció su regreso inminente al país.

“Voy a volver a Venezuela para asegurarme de que el proceso sea pacífico y que se canalice toda esa energía, toda esa angustia, alrededor de un proceso electoral”. La opositora reiteró que su prioridad es garantizar una transición política ordenada y legítima, con garantías para todos los venezolanos.

La líder opositora de Venezuela reveló que ha ofrecido en varias oportunidades a la jefa del régimen chavista, Delcy Rodríguez, la posibilidad de negociar una transición pactada.

“Nosotros le hemos ofrecido, como vencedores de la elección del 28 de julio, nuestra disposición a lograr un acuerdo para una transición negociada en múltiples oportunidades, pero ella no ha querido”, aseguró.

Machado remarcó que mantiene un “proceso de intercambio de información permanente” con funcionarios y sectores internos del aparato estatal, con el objetivo de construir un camino hacia el cambio democrático.

Sostuvo, además, que Venezuela cuenta con una sociedad “preparada, decidida y absolutamente deseosa” de participar en elecciones libres.

“Es la manera de sanar heridas y de poder iniciar el proceso de retorno de nuestros hijos a casa”, expresó, al tiempo que enfatizó el impacto migratorio y el deseo de reunificación familiar como motores de la demanda popular.

Según su estimación, “cuarenta semanas es el plazo necesario para tener listos todos los aspectos técnicos” de un proceso electoral completo y transparente, aunque reconoció que existen factores políticos que podrían modificar ese calendario.

Para Machado, la coyuntura actual representa una oportunidad histórica para transformar el país.

“El proceso ya no se puede detener“, afirmó.

Reiteró que la comunidad internacional debe acompañar y supervisar el proceso para asegurar que se respeten los derechos y se garantice la competitividad electoral.

Machado afirmó que la urgencia de una transición democrática no solo responde a la presión social, sino también a la necesidad de restaurar la confianza y la esperanza en el futuro.

“Los venezolanos están listos para un cambio y no van a esperar mucho más”, sentenció.

En el cierre de la entrevista, María Corina Machado rechazó los cánticos de “fuera la mona” proferidos contra Delcy Rodríguez por parte de algunos asistentes a un acto público en Madrid.

“Jamás se escuchará en mi boca una palabra o una expresión que juzgue o descalifique a una persona por su religión, por su género o por su raza”, afirmó.

Machado enfatizó que su movimiento defiende el respeto a la dignidad y a la libertad de ideas como pilares de la reconciliación nacional.

La dirigente atribuyó al régimen chavista la responsabilidad de haber sembrado divisiones en la sociedad venezolana.

“Eso es lo que ha hecho el régimen en Venezuela, dividirnos por esos motivos”, dijo. Machado reiteró su rechazo a cualquier forma de descalificación personal: “Por supuesto que rechazamos cualquier descalificación de esta naturaleza”.

La visita de Machado a España incluyó la recepción de la Medalla de Oro de la Comunidad de Madrid y la Llave de Oro de la capital, así como reuniones públicas y privadas con líderes de diferentes tendencias políticas.

Durante su paso por Madrid, la opositora insistió en la urgencia de un proceso electoral legítimo y en el papel de la comunidad internacional como garante de la transición.

(Con información de EFE)

The 10-day Israel-Lebanon ceasefire was tested April 18 after an ambush in southern Lebanon killed a French soldier, highlighting Hezbollah’s alleged «human shield» tactics and drawing another nation into the conflict, a defense analyst said.

An IDF reservist was also killed, and nine soldiers were wounded—one seriously—on the same day, when an engineering vehicle drove over a bomb planted by Hezbollah in southern Lebanon, the military said.

Kobi Michael, a senior researcher at the INSS and the Misgav Institute in Tel Aviv, said the Iranian-backed group had spent years preparing the region for Israel’s arrival, relying on its entrenched, signature terror strategy—even after the latest ceasefire and the IDF’s re-entry into southern Lebanon in March.

«This is the rationale of human shields, using the population and sensitive civilian facilities in order to store weapons and use places for terror and operational purposes,» Michael told Fox News Digital.

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«Hezbollah worked for decades to build an entire facility, part of it underground, below private residential buildings and houses, preparing themselves for a surprise attack on Israel,» Michael added.

«They were well-prepared to defend themselves once the IDF entered and tried to fight them,» he said.

France’s foreign minister said the soldier was killed in a close-range ambush and struck by a direct shot.

The minister said the attack happened during a patrol clearing explosives near Ghandouriyeh, when troops came under small-arms fire from «non-state actors,» a term often used to refer to groups like Hezbollah.

«They operate in the Shiite villages and among the Shiite population who are supported by Hezbollah,» Michael said, before describing how «most people in these southern villages are connected to Hezbollah» in one way or another and are «heavily dependent on the terror organization.»

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Hezbollah terrorists are shown in this image. A «terrorist network» funded and operated by Hezbollah and Iran has been foiled in the United Arab Emirates, according to a report. (Fadel Itani/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

«All community life and infrastructure in these Shiite villages and towns are an effective cover for terror purposes and Hezbollah activities,» he added.

French President Emmanuel Macron confirmed the soldier’s death.

«Sgt. Maj. Florian Montorio of the 17th Parachute Engineer Regiment in Montauban was killed this morning in southern Lebanon during an attack against UNIFIL (United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon),» Macron said. «Three of his comrades were wounded and evacuated.»

«All indications suggest that Hezbollah is responsible for this attack. France demands that the Lebanese authorities immediately arrest those responsible and take responsibility alongside UNIFIL,» Macron added.

Michael, however, claimed Macron’s response was, in some ways, inconsistent, as the president has been drawn into the war.

At first, France had called Israeli strikes on Lebanon on April 8 «intolerable» and opposed a ground offensive.

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French President Emmanuel Macron hold a press conference on July 10, 2025 in London, England. (Leon Neal)

Israel’s ambassador to Washington, Yechiel Leiter, also expressed his wish to keep Macron out of ceasefire negotiations, highlighting tensions surrounding his policy.

«When it comes to Hezbollah breaches against Israel, the French demand Israel restrain and contain, but when it comes to one of their soldiers, they are furious at Hezbollah,» Michael said.

«That said, Hezbollah has breached the ceasefire agreement since its first moment,» Michael added.

Hezbollah has since denied the ambush, with the soldier’s death still underscoring the volatility of the 10-day ceasefire, which came into effect April 16.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the attack in a statement and said an initial assessment by the UN Interim Force in Lebanon found it was carried out by Hezbollah.

According to the U.S. State Department, under the terms of the 2026 ceasefire, brought about by negotiations between Israel and Lebanon, Israel retains the right to act in self-defense against threats, while Lebanon must take steps to prevent attacks by Hezbollah and other armed groups.

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Rescue workers search for victims at the site of an Israeli airstrike that hit a crowded neighbourhood south of Beirut, Lebanon, Sunday, April 5, 2026. (Hussein Malla/AP Photo)

Lebanon’s security forces are solely responsible for national security, and both sides have asked the U.S. to continue facilitating talks to resolve remaining issues.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) also said it carried out strikes in response to what it described as «ceasefire violations by Hezbollah.»

Michael also emphasized Iran’s continued influence as Hezbollah operates in southern Lebanon as an «unrestrained political force.»

«Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) is still in charge of Hezbollah,» he added, before saying that the Lebanese army is also «unwilling to fight or confront Hezbollah.»

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«First, because of the Shiite segment of this army that identifies with Hezbollah, and secondly, because it is afraid that confronting Hezbollah will lead to a civil war, a trauma they still have since the first one in 1975, lasting 15 years — until 1990.»

Michael added: «The Shiite militia, also controlled by Iran, is not subordinate to state authority, enabling Hezbollah to operate as an unrestrained political force within the Lebanese political system.»

British counterterror police are investigating whether suspected Iranian proxies are behind a wave of arson attacks targeting Jewish sites in London, as a chief rabbi warned that such attacks are escalating.

The Metropolitan Police said specialized counterterror officers are probing fires at synagogues, Jewish-linked facilities and a Persian-language media company critical of Iran’s regime.

The latest incident caused minor damage to a north London synagogue Saturday night. No injuries have been reported in any of the blazes, which all happened within a few miles of each other.

Deputy Assistant Commissioner Vicki Evans said investigators are examining claims by a group calling itself Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamia, which has taken responsibility for several attacks. The group’s name means Islamic Movement of the Companions of the Right.

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«We are aware of public reporting that suggests this group may have links to Iran. As you would expect, we will continue to explore that question as our investigation evolves,» she said.

«I’ve spoken previously about the Iranian regime’s use of criminal proxies, and we’re considering whether this tactic is being used here in London,» Evans added.

Authorities say the group — which Israel has described as a possible Iranian proxy — has also claimed synagogue attacks in Belgium and the Netherlands.

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Police have flooded northwest London with additional officers after a series of incidents in recent weeks, including the torching of four Jewish charity ambulances in the Golders Green neighborhood on March 23.

A police officer investigates after an attempted arson attack at Finchley Reform Synagogue in north London on April 15, 2026. Metropolitan Police are seeking two suspects after bottles believed to contain gasoline were thrown at the building. (Toby Shepheard/AFP/Getty Images)

Several suspects, ranging from teenagers to people in their 40s, have already been arrested and charged.

Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis warned on X that «a sustained campaign of violence and intimidation against the Jewish community of the UK is gathering momentum.»

«Thank God, no lives have been lost, but we cannot, and must not, wait for that to change before we understand just how dangerous this moment is for all of our society,» he added.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer condemned the violence, calling the attacks «abhorrent» and vowing those responsible «will be found and brought to justice.»

Police are seen outside a synagogue in London on Wednesday, April 15, 2026, following an attempted arson attack. (Toby Shepheard/AFP/Getty Images)

The threat level rose further after the group released a video claiming it would target Israel’s embassy in London with drones carrying hazardous substances. Police shut down nearby Kensington Gardens while investigating suspicious items but said no dangerous materials were found.

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British officials have long warned that Iran uses criminal networks to carry out attacks in Europe. MI5 says it disrupted more than 20 potentially lethal Iran-linked plots in the past year.

Police issued a blunt warning to any «thugs for hire» involved in such attacks.

«Let’s be really clear — it’s a mug’s game,» said Deputy Commissioner Matt Jukes. «That’s what people who are now serving long prison sentences have found out, and the same fate awaits those responsible for these recent crimes.»

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Investigators say the probe remains ongoing as authorities work to determine whether the attacks are part of a coordinated foreign-backed campaign.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.