Venezuela ? Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez sent two helicopters into Colombia on Friday on a delicate mission to pluck three hostages from the rebel-held jungle.

“The operation has begun. With these two helicopters goes great hope,” Chavez said as the two Russian-made MI-172 helicopters lifted off, bearing the Red Cross insignia as well as the Venezuelan flag. “We’re going to get those three people in the coming days.”

Wearing the red beret and fatigues of his paratrooper days, Chavez was accompanied by American filmmaker Oliver Stone and a group of international observers at the Venezuelan airstrip.

Chavez called the mission “Operation Emmanuel,” after the captive child who is believed to be the son of hostage Clara Rojas and a guerrilla fighter.

Colombia’s U.S.-allied government agreed to allow the Venezuelan helicopters to land at an air base south of Bogota and then take off this morning to pick up former congresswoman Consuelo Gonzalez, Rojas and the boy, who is thought to be 3 years old. The women have been held captive for about six years.