US Launches Large-Scale Military Strike on Venezuela, Trump Says Maduro Captured

President Nicolas Maduro and wife reportedly detained following nighttime airstrikes on Caracas; international community reacts with alarm

CARACAS/WASHINGTON, January 3, 2026 – In an unprecedented military operation, the United States conducted strikes on Venezuela’s capital city, with President Nicolas Maduro being captured and flown out of the country, US President Donald Trump announced early Saturday morning. The dramatic development marks a major escalation in tensions between Washington and Caracas.

Operation Details

Multiple explosions rocked Caracas in the early hours of Saturday, with residents reporting at least seven blasts and low-flying aircraft around 2 a.m. local time. Fires broke out at Fuerte Tiuna, Venezuela’s largest military complex, and explosions were also reported at La Carlota airport and near the presidential palace Miraflores.

Trump wrote on Truth Social that Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores had been apprehended and removed from Venezuelan territory. Attorney General Pam Bondi announced that Maduro would face charges including narco-terrorism, with a news conference scheduled for 11 a.m. at Mar-a-Lago.

Venezuelan Government Response

Venezuela’s Vice President Delcy Rodríguez demanded immediate proof of life from the Trump administration, stating the government doesn’t know the whereabouts of Maduro or the First Lady. The Venezuelan government condemned what it called a serious military aggression and declared a national state of emergency.

Venezuela requested an urgent meeting of the United Nations Security Council in response to the attack. The government accused the United States of attempting to seize the country’s oil reserves and mineral resources.

Casualties and Damage

The attack killed officials, military personnel and civilians across the country, according to Vice President Rodríguez. Several areas of Caracas experienced power outages following the strikes. Residents described intense shaking and hearing aircraft overhead throughout the early morning hours.

Background to the Operation

The Trump administration has accused Maduro of leading a drug-trafficking organization known as the Cartel de los Soles, or Cartel of the Suns. The US had offered a $50 million bounty for Maduro’s arrest and designated the alleged cartel as a foreign terrorist organization.

Since late August, the US deployed aircraft carriers and warships to the Caribbean and had been conducting strikes on boats allegedly transporting drugs. The CIA also carried out a drone strike in December on a port facility on the Venezuelan coast, marking the first known US attack inside the country prior to Saturday’s operation.

International Reactions

The operation has drawn swift international response:

Regional Allies: Cuba’s President Miguel Díaz-Canel denounced the action as criminal. Colombia’s President Gustavo Petro said Colombian forces are deploying to the Venezuelan border to prepare for a potential refugee influx.

US Allies: Argentina’s President Javier Milei praised the operation, posting on social media that “Freedom lives.”

Global Powers: Russia’s foreign ministry denounced what it called an act of armed aggression against Venezuela, reaffirming solidarity with the Venezuelan people. Iran also condemned the US attack.

Legal Questions

International law experts noted that the strikes are prohibited under international law, which only permits the use of force in response to armed attack or to rescue populations under imminent threat. However, a criminal trial for Maduro in the US could potentially proceed.

The Trump administration justified the operation under Article II of the US Constitution, citing presidential authority as commander-in-chief of the military.

Current Situation

The US Embassy in Bogotá, Colombia, has warned American citizens not to travel to Venezuela and advised those in the country to shelter in place. Venezuelan state oil company PDVSA reported that oil production and refining operations remained normal with no damage to key facilities.

Further details are expected at Trump’s scheduled news conference later today.