Trump Announces Capture of Venezuelan Leader Maduro in Daring U.S. Operation

President Donald Trump declared early Saturday that U.S. forces have captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, following a large-scale military strike on targets inside Venezuela.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump wrote: “The United States of America has successfully carried out a large scale strike against Venezuela and its leader, President Nicolas Maduro, who has been, along with his wife, captured and flown out of the Country. This operation was done in conjunction with U.S. law enforcement. Details to follow.”

The announcement followed reports of multiple powerful explosions that rocked Caracas and surrounding regions shortly after 2 a.m. local time on January 3, 2026. Witnesses described low-flying aircraft, heavy blasts, and fires at major military installations, including Fuerte Tiuna, Venezuela’s primary armed forces headquarters, and La Carlota airfield.

Venezuela’s government immediately declared a national state of emergency and condemned the action as a “gravísima agresión militar” by the United States. Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino López called the operation a “criminal attempt at regime change” and pledged resistance, though no senior Maduro administration officials have made public appearances since the strikes.

The dramatic operation represents the culmination of Operation Southern Spear, a U.S.-led campaign launched in late 2025 targeting alleged narco-terrorist networks tied to the Maduro regime. The effort previously included lethal strikes on more than 35 suspected drug-trafficking vessels in international waters, resulting in over 115 deaths, and a confirmed CIA drone attack on a coastal facility inside Venezuela in December—the first acknowledged U.S. military action on Venezuelan soil.

A substantial U.S. military presence had been building in the Caribbean region, including the deployment of the USS Gerald R. Ford carrier strike group and thousands of troops.

International reaction was swift and sharply divided. Cuba and Iran denounced the U.S. action as “state terrorism,” while Colombia’s president called for an emergency United Nations Security Council meeting. Several Latin American governments expressed alarm over the unilateral intervention.

No official casualty figures have been released, and the Pentagon has not yet provided operational details. U.S. officials confirmed no American forces were lost in the mission.

The capture of Maduro marks the most direct U.S. military intervention in Latin America since the 1989 invasion of Panama. President Trump is scheduled to address the nation later today from Mar-a-Lago.

The situation remains highly fluid as Venezuela’s chain of command and potential succession become unclear in the wake of Maduro’s removal. Developments continue.