Two former US special forces soldiers were sentenced to 20 years in prison by a Venezuelan court for their part in a failed beach attack that was expected to overthrow the Venezuelan government, the prosecutors announced on Saturday.

Former Green Berets Luke Denman and Airan Berry admitted to be a part of an operation orchestrated by a third ex-US soldier Jordan Goudreau ,who is in the United States, said Venezuelan’s chief prosecutor Tarek William Saab as reported the Associated Press.

Saab tweeted, “They admitted their responsibility for the facts,” adding that the case will continue for other defendants.

Another former Green Beret Jordan Goudreau claimed accountability for the failed attack. The attack, “Operation Gideon”, was carried out from makeshift training camps in Colombia. The operation left at least eight rebel soldiers dead, while another 66 people were jailed. Goudreau operated private Florida-based security named Silvercorp USA.

The report further stated that the two former soldiers were found guilty of conspiracy, trafficking in illegal arms, and terrorism.

The two American soldiers, both decorated former US service members, were arrested in the coastal fishing community of Chuao, serve proof that the US is set on overthrowing President Nicolas Maduro’s socialist government, the report further added.

The incident also brings to light that the US-backed opposition leader Juan Guaido had authorized Goudreau to carry out the attack. However, Guaido and the US officials have denied the claims.

A day before authorities announced that the two ex-Green Berets were sentenced, Venezuelan authorities opened a trial into six American executives of the Houston-based Citgo company. The six men were arrested two years ago in Venezuela on corruption charges.

The case had dawdled for months until former New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson met Maduro in July in Caracas to urge that the six Americans be released and brought home to the States.

Last year, the Donald Trump administration put its support behind opposition leader Guaido, who declared he was Venezuela’s legitimate president, vowing to oust Maduro.

While Guaido blames Maduro for Venezuela’s economic and social collapse, the socialist leader said Washington is manipulating Guaido to steal the nation’s vast oil wealth.