Washington DC, Jan. 4 -- US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth has defended Washington's military intervention in Venezuela, during which the US captured the country's president and deposed dictator Nicolas Maduro and his wife, asserting that the operation was the "exact opposite" of the 2003 Iraq invasion and would not result in prolonged conflict or loss of American lives.

In an interview with CBS Evening News on Saturday (local time), Hegseth was asked about concerns among Americans who may have been reminded of past US interventions, particularly the Iraq war, which led to significant loss of life and resources.

Responding to concerns, Hegseth said the operation in Venezuela marked a complete departure from past military engagements, add...