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The United States has carried out what President Donald Trump described as a “large-scale strike” on Venezuela, claiming that US forces have captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, and flown them out of the country.
In a statement posted on Truth Social, Trump said the operation was conducted in conjunction with US law enforcement and that further details would be released at a news conference at his Florida residence, Mar-a-Lago. US officials later told CBS News that the operation involved Delta Force, the US military’s elite counterterrorism unit.
Explosions were reported across Venezuela’s capital, Caracas, in the early hours of the morning, with eyewitnesses describing loud blasts, fires, and plumes of smoke rising above the city. Video footage showed helicopters flying over central areas, while images published by news agencies depicted explosions near military installations and surrounding neighborhoods.
One journalist in Caracas told the BBC that the explosions were “stronger than thunder,” causing buildings to vibrate. “My heart was pumping and my legs were shaking,” she said, adding that while the strikes appeared precise, residents were frightened and scrambling to contact friends and family.
US officials indicated that the strikes targeted military facilities and were intended to support the execution of an arrest warrant against Maduro. Senator Mike Lee said he had spoken with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who anticipated “no further action in Venezuela” now that Maduro was allegedly in US custody. Lee added that the strikes were deployed to protect those carrying out the arrest, though he questioned what constitutional authority justified the action without a declaration of war or congressional authorization.
Venezuela’s government has strongly rejected the US claims and condemned the strikes as “extremely serious military aggression.” Vice President Delcy Rodríguez said the government did not know the whereabouts of Maduro or the first lady and demanded “immediate proof of life” for both. Defence Minister Vladimir Padrino López announced the immediate deployment of all armed forces across the country, calling the attack the “worst aggression” Venezuela had ever faced and urging national resistance.
Earlier, Maduro had declared a state of national emergency, describing the situation as a “state of external commotion.” In an official statement, the government accused Washington of attempting to seize Venezuela’s strategic resources, particularly oil and minerals, and called on political and social organizations to mobilize against what it termed an imperialist attack.
The US action follows weeks of escalating tension between Washington and Caracas. The Trump administration has accused Maduro of leading an international drug trafficking organization, allegations he denies, and has offered a multimillion-dollar reward for information leading to his arrest. Since September, the US has carried out dozens of strikes on vessels it claims were involved in drug smuggling in the Caribbean and Pacific, as well as seizing Venezuelan oil tankers under sanctions.
Analysts say that if confirmed, Maduro’s capture would be without modern precedent. The closest historical comparison is the 1989 US invasion of Panama and the eventual arrest of leader Manuel Noriega, though that followed a declared military conflict. Correspondents note that it remains unclear what will happen next inside Venezuela, where the military has largely remained loyal to Maduro and where US intervention risks further destabilization.
As of now, key details surrounding the operation, Maduro’s location, and the extent of casualties and damage from the strikes remain unconfirmed. Both governments continue to issue competing claims, and the situation on the ground in Venezuela remains tense and uncertain.
With information from BBC.
