The United States carried out a large-scale military operation in Venezuela early Saturday, and President Donald Trump announced that Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were captured and flown out of the country, marking an extraordinary escalation in US-Venezuelan tensions.
Explosions and the sound of aircraft were reported over Caracas and other parts of northern Venezuela before dawn, with at least seven blasts heard in the capital and low-flying planes seen over military installations.
In a social media post, Trump described the strike as a successful operation “in conjunction with US law enforcement”and said that Maduro would face justice in the United States on criminal charges, including allegations linked to narcotics trafficking.
Venezuelan authorities responded swiftly with strong denunciations. The government’s statement labelled the assault a “criminal attack” and a violation of national sovereignty, and Venezuela’s Vice President Delcy Rodríguez said officials did not know Maduro’s whereabouts, demanding immediate “proof of life”.
The operation represents the most direct US military action in Venezuela in decades and underscores rapidly deteriorating relations between the two governments. US officials claim the strikes targeted both civilian and military sites, though independent verification of specific targets remains incomplete.
International reaction has been sharply divided.
- Russia and Iran condemned the US action as a breach of international law and Venezuelan sovereignty.
- Latin American governments, including Colombia and Cuba, expressed deep concern and called for de-escalation.
- In Europe, British officials underscored that the United Kingdom was not involved in the strikes but emphasised respect for international law amid the crisis.
The Venezuelan government simultaneously declared a state of national emergency, calling for mobilisation of social and political sectors. Reports from the ground in Caracas described power outages, smoke over key airfields and military facilities, and widespread alarm among civilians.
With uncertainty over the chain of authority in Venezuela, analysts warn the move could have far-reaching consequences for regional stability, including heightened refugee flows and strained diplomatic ties across the Americas.
