President Donald Trump announced Saturday that US forces captured Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro and his wife following a “large scale strike” on the country.
“The United States has successfully executed a large-scale operation against Venezuela, capturing President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, who have been flown out,” Trump posted on Truth Social. He scheduled a news conference for 11:00am (1600 GMT) at Mar-a-Lago, Florida.
Strike Details and Reactions
Explosions rocked Caracas around 2:00am (0600 GMT), with blasts also reported in Miranda, Aragua, and La Guaira near the capital’s airport and port. US media like Fox News and CBS confirmed military action after months of Trump threats.
Maduro’s government declared a national emergency, mobilized defenses, and condemned the “military aggression” internationally. They deny drug trafficking ties, which Trump accuses fuels US drug influx.
Regional Fallout
Colombian President Gustavo Petro alerted the OAS and UN on X, claiming missile strikes on Caracas without citing sources. The US had built up forces nearby, including carriers and jets, imposed oil blockades, expanded sanctions, and hit drug-related vessels.
Last week marked Washington’s first known land strikes in Venezuela. The Pentagon offered no immediate comment amid global condemnation of the escalation.
